r(^W^^^^\     '^^ 


I 


OLOGICAL  SEMINARY,! 
Princeton,  N.  J.  -       J 


Divuinn 


'      I        Case,  Si.  \ 

S        Shelf, 

V        Book,  _N«.„ I*..... 


Section 3.2_y. 


■ocB 


Jerusalem- 


Rome. 


SCRIPTURE 

GEOGRAPHY; 

OR, 

A  COMPANION  TO  THE  BIBLE : 


A  GEOGRAPHICAL  AND  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT  OF  THE 
PLACES  MENTIONED  IN  THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 

IN  TWO  PARTS. 

PART    I.    GEOGRAPHICAL    AND    HISTORICAL  : 

EXTENDING  FROM  THE  CREATION  OF   T^E  WQRLD  TO  THE  FINAL  SET=- 

TLEMENT  OF  THE  ISRAELITES  IN  THE  LAND  OF  CANAAN. 

PART    II.    A  GEOGRAPHICAL  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE  : 
CONTAINING,    IN   ALPHABETICAL  ORDER,   A   DESCRIPTION   OF    THE    PLA- 
CES  MENTIONED    IN   THE   HOLY   SCRIPTURES. 

ACCOMPANIED  BY  FIVE  MAPS. 

I.  Eastern  countries,  as  mentioned  by  Moses.  II.  Tlie  World,  as  peopled 
by  the  descendants  of  iVoah.  III.  Map  of  Canaan,  with  the  portions  of  the 
Tribes.  IV.  Tetrarchies  of  Palestine.  V.  Countries  mentioned  in  the  New 
Testament.  And  embellished  vviih  nearly  one  hundred  engravings,  illus-tra- 
tive  of  the  heathen  deities,  of  nations  and  countries  mentioned  in  Scripturej 
and  of  the  subsequent  history  and  present  state  of  those  countries. 

TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED, 

SCRIPTURE  NATUEAL  HISTORY, 

WITH    ENGRAVINGS. 
INTENDED  FOR  THE  USE  OF  FAMILIES  AND  SCHOOLS. 


BY  THOMAS  T.  SMILEY,  A.M.,M.D. 


**  Go  through  the  land  and  describe  it ;— and  the  men  went  through  the  land, 
and  described  it  by  cities,  in  a  book."— Josh,  xviii.  8,  9. 


HARTFORD: 
PUBLISHED  BY  J.  SEYMOUR  BROWN. 

1842. 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  ila  year  1831,  by 
Thomas  T.  Smiley,  in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  district  court  for  tba 
eastern  district  of  Pennsylvania. 


RECOMMENDATIONS. 


From  Roberts  Vaux,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Pennsylvania  Education  Society 

It  afTuc's  me  pleasure,  whilst  I  regard  it  a  duty,  to  confess  how  much  I 
feel  indebted  to  Dr.  Smiley  for  his  compendious  •'Scripture  Geography  "  a 
volume,  the  composition  of  which  is  the  result  of  great  research  into  vari 
ous  and  rare  authorities  in  this  department  of  knowledge,  that  are  acces 
sibie  to  very  few  persons.  The  Holy  Scriptures  will  be  rendered  more 
intelligible  and  interesting  after  the  perusal  of  this  work,  the  whole  scope 
of  which  seems  to  me  to  be  eminently  calculated,  to  give  ''energy  to  virtue 
and  confidence  to  truth."  Every  class  of  readers  may  derive  instruction 
irom  its  pages,  and  it  will  be  especially  valuable  in  all  schools  for  tlie  right 
education  of  youth. 

ROBERTS  VAUX. 


From  the  Christian  Index,  edited  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Branthj. 

"  The  prof essi'ons  of  the  title-page  are  ably  sustained,  in  the  subsequent 
pages  of  the  work.  The  matter  is  abundant,  judiciously  arranged,  and 
clearly  set  forth.  The  Scripture  Geography  should  be  at  once  introduced 
into  all  families,  and  schools,  and  its  contents  well  digested  by  young  and 
old.  Any  book  containing  Geographical  allusions  caiuiot  be  understood 
without  a  knowledge  of  the  places  referred  to.  Dr.  Smiley  is  already  well 
known  as  the  author  of  a  most  useful  general  Geography. 


The  following  are  among  the  numerous  subscribers  to 
the  work. 


Rev.  Ezra  Stiles  Ely,  D.D.    Philada. 

S;ephen  H  Tvng.  D.D. 

Michael  Hurley,  D.D. 

.  John  Hughes,  " 

H.  Bihighaus,  " 

T.  J.  Kitts, 

T.  Dasilva, 

Joseph  H.  Kennard,  " 

William  Bryant,  " 

Keiley,  " 

S.G.Winchester, 

George  Boyd,  " 

Charles  Pitman,  " 

William  Bf-rrian.D.D.  N.  York 

James  Milnor,  D.D.  " 

Thomas  Dewitt,  " 

J.  L.  Broadhead, D.D. 

Samuel  H.  Cox,  D.D. 

William  Creiirhton,  D.D.    " 

E.  W.  Bal.lwin, 

D.  E.  Lansing,  D.D. 

J.  M.  Forbes, 

D.  Dunbar,  " 

John  Knox,  " 

William  Parkinson,  " 

P.  Williams, 

— —  C.  T.  Demarest,  " 


Rev.  J.  Harrison,  N.  York. 

Mr.  Johnson,  ^  " 

L.  P.  Bayard, 

F.  W.  Geisenhaimer,  " 

John  Middleton,  ♦' 

Albert  Smedes,  " 

James  Hayborn,  '• 

William  George  Miller,  " 

William  Tappan,  " 

William  A.  Van  VIeck,  " 

J.  A.  Schueller, 

H.  H.  Taylor, 

B.  Pitcher,  " 

Jonathan  Power,  D.D.  •' 

Hernan  Norton,  " 

Robsrt  M'Cartee,  D.D.  " 

Michael  Lacoste,  " 

E.  W.  Grisv/old,  " 

C.  G.  Sommers,  ♦' 

W.  C.  Brownlee,  " 

R.  T.  Stiiddart,  " 

C.  Baldwin,  " 

F.  M.  Kip, 

James  A.  Yard,  Trenton,  N.J. 

Thos.  J.  Thompson,  " 

R.  M.  Greenbank,  Centerville* 

Maryland. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/scripturegeograpOOsmil 


PREFACE. 


The  importance  of  a  proper  acquaintance  with  the  geogra 
phy  of  countries  and  places  mentioned  in  the  Holy  Bible,  must 
be  apparent  to  all  who  have  "  diligently  searched  the  Scrip- 
tures," with  a  view  to  a  thorough  and  proper  understanding 
of  them.  It  is  believed  that  many  have  neglected  the  sacred 
volume,  and  have  never  attained  a  necessary  knowledge  of  its 
contents,  not  because  they  are  infidels,  or  that  they  are  aban- 
doned to  vice,  nor  indeed  that  they  have  any  specific  objection, 
but  because  the  Scriptures  appear  unintelligible.  They  read 
of  Moab  and  Edom,  of  Canaan  and  Mesopotamia,  of  Cush  and 
Mizrairn ;  they  search  their  geographies  for  information,  but 
find  nothing  to  satisfy  their  inquiries.  They  are  unable  to 
associate  the  historical  record  of  events  with  time  and  place, 
and  thus  their  interest  in  the  Bible  history  is  lost,  as  well  as 
that  sensible  conviction  of  its  veracity  impaired,  which  in  a 
great  measure  depends  upon  a  familiar  acquaintance  with  the 
geography  of  the  countries  where  those  events  occurred.  It 
is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  to  such  readers  the  sacred  his- 
tory should  become  dull  or  tedious.  Not  only  the  interest  and 
pleasure  of  the  reader,  but  also  his  confidence  is  increased,  by 
learning  the  character  and  situation  of  the  places  of  which 
he  reads.  It  may  also  be  remarked,  that  in  describing  the  an- 
cient and  modern  state  of  many  of  these  places,  the  most  ex- 
act fulfilment  of  prophecy  is  spontaneously  apparent.  The 
present  state  of  Tyre,  of  Babylon,  of  Jerusalem,  and  many 
others  of  which  we  have  prophecies  recorded,  offers  sufficient 
proof  of  the  sublime  truths  of  divuie  revelation,  to  overthrow 
the  objections  of  the  sceptic,  and  abundantly  to  confirm  the 
faith  of  the  believer. 

A2 


n  PREFACE. 

The  plan  and  arrangement  of  the  work  may  appear  some- 
what novel,  but  it  is  that  which  has  been  chosen  after  mature 
deliberation,  as  best  adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  subject.  In 
Part  I.  the  chain  of  Scripture  history  is  pursued  until  the  final 
settlement  of  the  Israelites  in  the  promised  land ;  with  such 
geographical  notice  of  the  places  mentioned,  as  was  thought 
necessary  to  the  full  understanding  of  the  subject.  Particular 
care  has  been  taken  to  describe  the  different  settlements  of 
the  immediate  posterity  of  Noah,  as  this  was  deemed  impor- 
tant, in  order  to  elucidate  many  circumstances  relating  to  the 
names  and  early  history  of  different  countries.  It  will  be 
found,  upon  examination,  that  most  countries  and  cities  in  the 
early  ages  of  the  world,  were  named  from  the  families  or  per- 
sons by  whom  they  were  first  peopled  or  founded ;  and  also 
that  colonies  settled  in  remote  regions,  frequently  retained  the 
name  of  the  parent  state.  A  want  of  attention  to  these  gene- 
ral facts  has  caused  much  obscurity  and  confusion  in  ancient 
geography.  These  considerations  have  induced  us  to  give 
the  introductory  part  of  this  work  its  historical  form,  and  it  is 
believed  that  the  attentive  and  judicious  reader  will  be  sen- 
sible of  its  advantages. 

In  Part  II.  will  be  found,  in  alphabetical  order,  as  fall  an 
account  of  the  places  mentioned  in  Scripture  as  the  limits  of 
our  work  would  admit ;  and,  in  addition  to  the  geographical 
description,  such  events  in  their  history  have  been  given,  aa 
were  thought  necessary  to  a  more  full  and  complete  under- 
standing of  the  sacred  volume. 

The  engravings  which  are  given  in  the  work,  of  ancient 
coins,  medals,  and  sculptures,  we  consider  of  great  importance 
in  confirmation  of  many  passages  in  Scripture  liistory.  These 
will  be  found  a  source  of  information  almost  wholly  new,  but 
capable  of  the  greatest  services.  They  are  the  oldest,  most 
genuine,  and  often  the  most  extensive  memoranda  extant ;  and 
may  generally  be  relied  on  as  having  been  composed  while 
events  were  fresh,  and  having  suffered  nothing  by  the  errors 
of  transcription,  to  which  all  written  records  are  liable,  while 
these  unimpeachable  witnesses  have  been  preserved  to  ua 


PREFACE.  Vll 

unchanged,  notwithstanding  the  lapse  oi  nearly  two  thousand 
years. 

Some  may  not  immediately  perceive  the  force  and  cogency 
of  the  proofs  afibrded  by  these  medallic  illustrations,  from  the 
want  of  proper  examination,  or  miderstanding  of  the  subject. 
But  when  they  find  the  "  goddess  of  the  Sidonians"  of  Scrip- 
ture, represented  on  the  medals  of  Sidon ;  and  the  Ashtarotli 
of  the  Scriptures,  who  was  doubtless  the  Astarte  or  Venus 
of  the  Greeks,  on  those  of  many  towns  in  the  Holy  Land, 
they  will  find  that  by  these  antiquities  they  will  obtain  more 
correct  notions  of  the  deities  of  the  ancient  nations,  and  the 
objects  of  their  worship.  We  find  also  Anammelech,  "  the 
king  of  clouds"  of  the  Sepharvaites  in  Persia ;  also  the  most 
undeniable  .proof  of  the  propriety  of  Daniel's  representation 
of  the  kingdoms  of  Persia  and  Macedonia,  by  the  figures  of  a 
ram  and  a  single-horned  goat,  which  were  actually  the  na- 
tional symbols  of  those  kingdoms.  Many  others  wull  be  foimd 
of  equal  importance,  and  it  is  confidently  believed  that  those 
who  will  give  the  subject  due  attention,  will  perceive  the 
force  of  these  illustrations,  and  acknowledge  their  value.  If 
the  reader  find  in  the  goat  of  Macedonia,  or  the  ram  of  Persia, 
that  determinate  illustration  of  the  prophecies  of  Daniel, 
which  he  never  before  received ;  if  he  perceive  in  the  medals 
of  Jerusalem  a  proof  of  the  idolatry  practised  in  the  holy 
places,  the  history  of  its  destruction  by  Titus,  and  the  fulfil- 
ment of  our  Saviour's  prophecies  concerning  it,  fully  confirm- 
ed, he  will  doubtless  acknowledge  that  these  proofs  have  their 
advantages,  and  that  an  acquaintance  with  them  is  proper  for 
those  who  understand  the  duty  of  being  able  to  support,  by  a 
ready  answer,  the  hope  that  is  in  them. 

Another  remark  may  be  made  of  these  coins  and  medals, 
of  no  small  importance  to  the  Christian.  A  sufficient  num- 
ber is  given  of  those  belonging  to  the  cities  in  and  near  Ju- 
dea,  all  of  which  bear  Greek  inscriptions,  to  prove  that  at  the 
time  when  the  New  Testament  was  written,  Greek  was  the 
prevailing  language  throughout  the  country.  For  it  is  not  to  be 
supposed  that  these  cities  would  have  adopted  Greek  inscrip- 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

tions  on  their  coins  unless  they  understood  them,  and  unless 
the  language  had  been  ourrent,  and  even  prevalent.  This  jus- 
tifies the  gospel  writers  in  communicating  their  information 
in  a  language  generally  understood. 

It  yet  remains  to  say  something  respecting  the  sources  from 
which  the  materials  of  this  work  have  been  derived.  To  the 
Sacred  Geography  of  Dr.  Wells  we  are  largely  indebted  ;  and 
the  works  of  the  learned  Calmet  have  afforded  valuable  aid. 
Much  authentic  information  has  also  been  derived  from  the 
work  of  Eusebius,  entitled,  Onomnsticon  Urbium  et  Locorum 
SacrcB  ScripturcB,  d^c.  written  in  Greek  in  the  fourth  century, 
and  afterwards  translated  into  Latin  and  improved  by  St.  Je- 
rom.  The  best  Scripture  gazetteers  have  been  consulted, 
among  which  is  the  invaluable  work  of  Mansford,  recently 
published  in  England.  We  have  also  drawn  from  the  most 
authentic  commentators,  and  from  such  Geographies  and 
Travels  as  afforded  useful  information  upon  our  subject.  Lem- 
priere,  D' Anville,  and  many  other  writers,  have  been  carefully 
examined,  and  no  labour  of  investigation  has  been  spared  to 
collect  the  best  authorities  and  the  most  authentic  information. 

The  author  cannot  conclude  without  the  expression  of  his 
warmest  acknowledgments  to  such  of  his  friends  as  have 
kindly  afforded  him  the  use  of  rare  and  expensive  works, 
from  which  important  information  has  been  derived.  But  his 
thanks  are  more  especially  due  to  his  friend  Charles  B.  Tre- 
go, Esq.  for  much  valuable  assistance  in  compiling  this  work, 
the  plan  of  which  was  laid  several  years  ago,  and  as  much 
progress  made  in  it  from  time  to  time,  as  intervals  of  com- 
parative leisure  from  more  pressing  pursuits  would  permit; 
though,  without  the  aid  of  his  highly  important  services,  a 
much  longer  period  must  have  -elapsed  before  it  could  have 
been  presented  to  the  public. 

Philadelphia,  June,  1834. 


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^-lllli.     I 


SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 


PART  I. 

Geographical  and  Historical :  extending  from  the  Creation 
of  the  World  to  the  final  settlement  of  the  Israelites  in  the 
land  of  Canaan. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ANTEDILUVIAN  GEOGRAPHY. 


Our  knowledge  of  the  antediluvian  world  is  limited  to  very 
narrow  bounds,  owing-  to  the  extreme  brevity  of  Scripture  in 
relating  the  events  which  occun'ed  before  the  deluge.  This 
conciseness  in  the  history  has  prevented  any  extended  geo- 
graphical account  of  the  places  where  those  events  occurred ; 
there  being  no  mention  of  any  excepting  the  Garden  of  Eden, 
with  the  Rivers  which  determine  its  situation ;  the  Land  of 
Nod,  and  the  city  of  Enoch,  which  Cain  built  therein.  With 
regard  to  the  situation  of  these  places,  we  must  in  the  begin- 
ning acknowledge  that  considerable  uncertainty  exists ;  and 
that,  though  many  pious  and  learned  men  have  examined,  with 
great  diligence  and  attention,  all  the  existing  sources  of  in- 
Ibrmation,  yet  their  opinions  and  conclusions  are  various,  and 
even  sometimes  contradictory.  In  such  cases  we  shall  consi- 
der it  our  duty  to  designate  that  which  we  conceive  to  be  the 
most  satisfactory  decision,  and  leave  the  reader  to  form  his 
ovv'n  opinion  from  proper  investigation  of  the  subject. 

1.   The  situation  of  the  Garden  of  Eden. 

The  name  Eden,  m  Hebrew,  signifies  bliss,  pleasure,  or 
delight ;  and  as  this  place  Vv^as  remarkable  as  the  residence  of 
our  first  parents,  in  their  state  of  innocence  and  happiness,  ita 


10  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPH 

Bituation  is  particularly  denoted  by  the  sacred  historian  as 
lying-  eastward,  and  having  a  river  going  out  of  i..,  which  from 
thence  was  parted  and  became  into  four  heads.  By  the  term 
eastward,  Moses  probably  means  that  it  was  situated  eastward 
from  the  place  where  he  then  wrote,  i,  e.  from  tiie  Land  of 
Canaan  or  its  vicinity.  But  this  is  very  general  and  indefinite ; 
for  it  may  apply  to  any  of  the  countries  east  of  tlie  Land  of 
Canaan.  It  is  then  to  the  rivers  that  we  must  look  for  data 
upon  wliich  to  found  a  conclusion  respecting  the  location  of 
Eden.  These  rivers  were  four,  namely,  the  Pison,  the  Gihon, 
the  Hiddekel,  and  the  Euphrates. 

L  The  Pison,  we  are  told,  "  compasses  the  whole  land  of 
Chavila,  or  Havilah,  where  there  is  gold;  and  the  gold  of  that 
land  is  good :  there  is  bdellium  and  the  onyx-stone."  Some 
have  supposed  tiiis  land  of  Chavila  to  be  the  present  Cabul,  a 
country  between  Persia  and  Hinciostan ;  and  the  Pison  to  be 
one  of  the  rivers  falling  into  the  Indus  from  the  west,  as  gold 
and  precious  stones  are  known  to  exist  in  that  region.  The 
Gihon  they  suppose  to  be  the  western  branch  of  the  Oxiis, 
now  called  Jihon  :  and  the  Hiddekel  the  eastern  branch  of  the 
same,  both  of  which  unite  near  Balk,  a  city  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  Persian  dominions.  Tlie  Euplirates,  written  in 
Hebrew  Phi-ath  or  Perath,  they  suppose  to  be  the  Hirmend, 
or  Hindmend.  According  to  this  theory,  then,  Eden  must  have 
been  situated  somewhere  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Persian 
empire,  or  in  the  country  now  called  Cabulistan,  between  Per- 
sia and  Hindostan. 

IL  The  learned  Huetius  and  others  suppose  Eden  to  have 
been  placed  in  the  southern  part  of  Babylonia,  not  far  from 
the  Persian  Gulf,  where  they  conjecture  that  the  Tigris  and 
Euphrates  joined,  and  afterwards  separated ;  consequently 
there  were  two  rivers  above  and  two  below  that  junction, 
making  the  four  mentioned  by  JMoses.  But  this  certainly  does 
not  well  answer  tlie  description  given  in  Scripture,  and  this 
conjecture  is  also  liable  to  other  objections. 

in.  The  most  probable  idea  concerning  the  situation  of 
Eden,  we  conceive  to  be,  that  it  was  placed  in  or  near  Arme- 
nia; because, 

1.  We  have  the  name  of  a  river  wluch  flowed  from  Eden, 
Euphrates,  which  name  lias  continued  almost  unchanged  to 
the  present  day.  This  river  has  its  source  in  the  mountains 
of  Armenia,  near  lake  Arsissa.  There  are  two  streams  at 
first  flowing  westward,  but  after  their  junction  near  Mount 


SITUATION  OF   THE   GARDEN   O?   EDEN.  11 

Taurus,  turning  to  the  south-west,  the  river  receives  a  smaller 
stream,  and  flows  towards  the  Mediterranean;  but  commg 
near  the  Caucasian  mountains,  it  is  turned  to  tlie  south-east, 
and  at  length  joining  the  Tigris,  it  empties  into  the  Persian 
Gulf  by  several  mouths. 

2.  The  Hiddekel  is  generally  agreed  by  historians  to  be  the 
Tigris.  The  prophet  Daniel  also  says  he  had  a  vision  "in 
Babylonia,  by  the  side  of  the  great  river,  which  is  Hiddekel." 
Now  by  the  "  great  river,"  he  must  mean  the  Tigris,  as  it  was 
the  only  great  river  in  Babylonia,  except  the  Euphrates.  The 
Tigris  rises  near  the  head  of  the  Euphrates,  and  pursuing  a 
south-easterly  direction,  divides  Assyria  from  Mesopotamia. 
And  we  are  told  (Gen.  ii.  14,  margin)  that  the  Hiddekel  goeth 
eastward  to  Assyria.  Therefore,  we  consider  there  can  be 
little  doubt  as  to  the  identity  of  the  two  rivers. 

3.  The  Pison  is  more  difficult  to  determine,  but  has  been 
generally  taken  to  be  the  Phasis,  or  Absarus  of  the  ancients, 
now  called  Batoum,  which  empties  into  the  Euxine  or  Black 
Sea.  The  Havilah,  which  was  encompassed  by  this  river, 
was  probably  Colchis,  between  the  Euxine  and  the  Caspian. 
This  region  was  celebrated  among  the  ancients  for  the  abun- 
dance and  excellence  of  its  gold.  It  must,  however,  be  borne 
in  mind,  that  there  was  another  Havilah,  in  Arabia,  different 
from  this  country,  and  of  which  we  shall  speak  in  another 
place. 

4.  The  Gihon,  which  is  said  to  have  compassed  the  whole 
land  of  Ethiopia.  The  Hebrew  word,  here  translated  Ethio- 
pia, is  Cush,  which  was  a  term  used  to  designate  several  re- 
gions in  Asia,  and  one  in  Africa.  (See  Cush,  Part  II.  of  this 
work.)  Now,  as  the  Cush  here  mentioned  could  be  neither 
in  Africa  nor  x^rabia,  we  must  suppose  it  was  either  in  Assy- 
ria west  of  the  Caspian,  or  in  Bactria  east  of  the  Oxus  or  Ji- 
hon,  both  of  which  countries  were  settled  by  the  descendants 
of  Cush.  According  to  the  first  supposition,  the  Gihon  may 
be  the  river  Kerah,  called  by  the  Greeks  Gyndus,  which  is 
possibly  a  corruption  of  the  name  Gihon.  But  it  is  more  ge- 
nerally believed  that  the  Gihon  was  the  Oxus,  yet  called  in 
that  coimtry  Jihon. 

All  reasoning  upon  the  subject  of  the  situation  of  Eden 
must,  however,  be  vague,  and  all  conclusions  naturally  ap- 
pear unsatisfactory,  when  we  reflect  that  as  the  surface  of  the 
earth  must  have  been  convulsed  and  broken  up  by  the  univer- 
sal deluge,  so  the  course  of  the  rivers  must  have  been,  in 


12  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 

many  instances,  greatly,  if  not  entirely,  altered ;  and  that 
many  other  changes  in  the  face  of  the  country  would  be  the 
natural  and  obvious  consequence  of  the  general  desolation 
produced  by  that  awful  visitation  of  the  Deity  upon  a  guilty 
world.  It  is  also  possible  that  God  chose  to  blot  out  this  beau- 
tiful spot  from  his  creation,  after  the  expulsion  of  our  first 
parents  from  the  garden,  and  so  destroy  both  the  scene  and 
the  memorial  of  man's  transgression. 

II.  The  Land  of  Nod,  aiid  the  City  of  Enoch. 

The  land  of  Nod,  in  which  Cain  is  said  to  have  dwelt  after 
he  had  been  cursed  for  the  murder  of  Abel,  if  it  mean  a 
country,  was  situated  on  the  east  of  Eden ;  or  as  some  trans- 
lators render  it,  before  or  over-against  Eden ;  meaning  that 
Cain  removed  no  further  from  Eden  than  he  was  compelled, 
and  that  he  remained  not  far  from  it.  There  is,  however,  a 
strong  presumption  that  the  original  meaning  of  this  term 
was  not  any  particular  country,  but  merely  descriptive  of  the 
state  of  Cain  after  his  exile.  The  expression  of  the  Samari- 
tan version  of  the  Old  Testament  is  Nad,  a  vagabond  or  trem- 
bier  in  the  land,  and  the  Hebrew  word  in  our  Bible  will  bear 
the  same  meaning,  as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  mar- 
gin in  Gen.  iv.  16.  And  even  if  taken  as  the  name  of  a  region 
of  country.  Nod  imports  wandering,  exile,  wildness,  or 
the  wilds,  in  allusion  to  the  unsettled  and  wandering  state  of 
the  unhappy  fugitive. 

With  regard  to  the  situation  of  the  city  of  Enoch,  which 
Cain  built,  nothmg  is  known  with  any  degree  of  certainty 


CHAPTER  IT. 

FROM  THE   DELUGE  TO   THE  BUILDING  OF  BABEL,  AND  THE 
CONFUSION  OF  TONGUES. 

I.  The  Country  and  Mountains  of  Ararat. 

There  is  no  mention  in  Scripture  of  any  particular ,  place 
Juring  the  continuance  of  the  Hood ;  we  are  only  told  of  the 
general  prevalence  of  the  waters,  their  depth  on  the  moun- 
tains, and  of  their  gradual  subsiding,  until  the  Ark  rested  upon 
the  mountains  of  Ararat.    Gen.  viii.  4. 

The  country  of  Ararat  has  been  generally  admitted  to  be 
in  Persian  Armenia,  west  of  tlie  Caspian  Sea,  in  which  re- 


THE  LAND   OF  SHINAR.  13 

gion  is  situated  the  city  now  called  Erivan.  In  tlie  north- 
east part  of  Armenia  are  lofty  mountains,  and  upon  one  of 
these,  called  Mount  ]\lasis,  and  by  the  Turks  Agridah,  it  is 
supposed  the  i^rk  rested.  It  has  two  peaks,'  distinguished  by 
the  nanies  Greater  and  Lesser  Ararat.  The  height  of  this 
mountain  is  said  to  be  not  less  than  15,000  feet :  it  is  covered 
with  snow  and  ice,  and  may  be  distinguished  at  a  distance  of 
nearly  200  miles.  It  has  been  visited  by  modern  travellers, 
but  its  summit  has  proved  inaccessible.  Some  years  ago,  a 
large  re\v'ard  was  oiTered  by  the  Turkish  governor  of  Beyazid 
to  any  one  who  should  reach  the  top ;  but  though  many  of  the 
natives  who  lived  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  have  made  the 
attempt,  they  have  always  failed  to  reach  the  summit,  which 
it  is  probable  has  never  been  visited  by  a  human  being  since 
the  days  of  Noah. 

There  is,  hovrever,  an  expression  in  Scripture  which  seems 
to  lead  to  a  contrary  conclusion  from  that  whicli  places  the 
mountains  of  Ararat  in  Armenia.  We  read  (Gen.  xi.  2.) 
that  as  mankind  journeyed  y?-o;/i  the  east,  they  found  a  plain 
in  the  land  of  Shinar,  and  they  dwelt  there.  Now  Armenia 
is  not  east,  but  very  far  north  of  Shinar,  and  indeed  somewhat 
to  the  west,  so  that  this  journey  could  not  have  been  from  the 
direction  of  Armenia.  Inquiries  have  therefore  been  made  to 
discover  the  mountains  of  Ararat  in  some  country  to  the  east 
of  Sliina,r ;  and  some,  relying  on  ancient  traditions,  have 
placed  Ararat  in  the  mountainous  region  between  India  and 
Persia,  not  far  from  the  sources  of  the  Indus,  on  whose  banks 
the  traditions  and  sacred  books  of  the  Hindoos  affirm  that 
Noah  lived  for  some  time  after  the  flood.  The  mountain  Arya- 
varta  or  Aryawart  certainly  has  some  affinity  in  name  to  the 
Hebrew  Araraut,  and  these  mountains  were  far  east  from  tlie 
plain  of  Shinar,  as  the  expression  in  Genesis  would  seem  to 
imply.  Still  we  think  it  most  probable  that,  after  all,  Ararat 
was  in  Armenia ;  and  that  when  the  posterity  of  Noah,  or  a 
part  of  them,  left  Armenia,  they  first  went  eastward  towards 
the  Caspian  Sea,  then  soQth-eastward,  and  finally  westward 
to  Shinar. 

11.  The  Land  of  Shinar,  and  the  Cities  huilt  there. 

We  are  now  naturally  led  to  inquire  into  the  situation  of 
the  land  of  Shinar,  where  the  famous  tower  of  Babel  was 
begun ;  where  the  language  of  mankind  was  confounded,  and 
B 


14  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPIIY. 

from  whence  they  were  scattered  abroad  upon  the  face  of  al) 
the  earth. 

The  land  of  Sliinar,  or  Sing-or,  was  certainly  the  same 
afterwards  called  Babylonia  or  Chaldea,  being  a  considerable 
extent  of  level  country  through  v/hich  flow  the  Tig-ris  and 
the  Euphrates,  and  probably  extending  so  far  north  as  to  in- 
clude a  part  of  j^.Iesopotamia.  In  the  northern  part  of  this 
great  plain  or  valley,  in  Mesopotamia  near  the  Tigris,  a  city 
is  mentioned  by  ancient  writers  called  Singcn-a,  and  a  moun- 
tain called  Singaras,  which  agree  very  nearly  with  the 
Hebrew  Singar  or  Sninar.  Babel  and  Erech  both  lay  in  the 
land  of  Siiinar :  Babel  we  know"  to  be  the  same  as  Babylon, 
and  Erech  was  on  the  east  of  the  Tigris ;  hence  it  is  manifest 
that  Sliinar  extended  on  both  sides  of  the  Tigris. 

1.  71ie  City  and  Tower  of  Babel — The  tower  of  Babel 
was  begun  probably  in  the  very  place,  or  at  least  in  the  im- 
mediate neighbourhood,  where  the  city  of  Babylon  afterwards 
stood,  i.  e.  on  the  Euphrates  at  some  distance  above  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Tigris.  It  is  not  likely  that  Noah,  or  his  sons 
Shem  and  Japliet,  and  possibly  Ham,  were  concerned  in 
building  the  tower,  but  probably  opposed  it ;  so  that  these  who 
undertook  it  had  withdrawn  themselves  and  chose  a  place  at 
some  distance  from  the  seat  of  Noah  and  the  patriarchs. 

The  design  of  this  mighty  edifice  seems  to  have  been  to 
make  themselves  a  name,  or  render  themselves  famous  to 
posterity.  Gen.  xi.  4.  They  seem  also  to  have  foreseen  that 
they  would  have  to  separate  and  scatter  abroad  upon  the  earth, 
and  possibly  miglit  therefore  liave  intended  the  tower  as  a 
memorial  of  their  union,  or  a  rallymg  point  after  their 
separation.  But  Divine  Providence  cltoce  this  very  occasion 
to  separate  and  scatter  tliem,  whicli  was  done  by  confounding 
their  language,  so  that  they  could  no  longer  understand  or 
communicate  their  thoughts  to  one  another. 

For  an  account  of  the  city  of  Babel,  afterwards  called 
Babylon,  founded  by  Nimrod  in  tiie  land  of  Shinar,  probably 
upon  the  ruins  of  the  tower  of  Babel,  the  reader  is  referred 
to  Part  II.  Article  Babylon. 

2.  Erech,  Accad,  and  Calnch. — Erech  was  another  of  the 
cities  which  made  the  foundation  of  the  kingdom  of  Nimrod 
in  the  land  of  Shinar.  It  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Erecca, 
or  Arecca,  and  according  to  Ptolemy,  the  Greek  geographer, 
was  situated  at  the  most  southern  bend  of  the  common  chan- 

?1  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates.     Tlie  Archevites,  of  whom 


settle:»ient  of  the  earth.  15 

we  read  in  Ezra  iv.  9.  are  supposed  to  have  been  inhabitants 
of  this  place,  brought  by  the  king  of  Assyria  to  colonize 
Samaria. 

But  little  is  known  concerning  the  situation  of  Accad. 
The  name  is  sometimes  written  Archad,  which  probably  gave 
name  to  the  river  Argacles,  mentioned  by  some  Greek  writers 
as  being  near  Sittace,  on  the  east  of  the  Tigris.  A  region 
is  also  spoken  of  by  Strabo,  called  Artacene,  lying  about  Ar- 
bela,  which  might  also  probably  derive  its  name  from  Archad. 
A  ruin  is  also  Ibund  not  far  from  Bagdad,  called  Akar-kouff, 
which  is  supposed  by  some  to  mark  the  place  v/here  Achad 
formerly  stood. 

Calneh  is  tlie  last  mentioned  of  tlje  cities  in  the  land  of 
Shinar,  belonging  to  the  kingdom  of  Nimrod.  This  place  is 
also  called  Calno  (Isa.  x.  9.)  and  Canneh  (Ezek.  xxvii.  23.) 
It  seems  to  have  been  a  considerable  place  in  the  time  of  the 
prophet  Amos,  as  he  com_pares  it  with  other  places  of  some 
note  ;  as  does  also  Isaiah,  as  above.  Calneh  was  situated  upon 
the  Tigris,  and  was  called  Ctesiphon  by  the  Greeks;  the 
country  about  it  being  called  Chalonitis,  evidently  derived 
from  Chalneh,  Chalno,  or  Chalone.  It  is  said  that  Pacorus,  a 
king  of  the  Parthians,  changed  the  name  of  the  city  to  Cte- 
siphon. 

Of  Nineveh,  Rehoboth,  Calah  and  Resen,  cities  built  by 
Asshur,  or  by  Nimrod,  in  Assyria,  we  shall  speak  in  their 
proper  places  in  Part  11.  of  this  work. 


CHAPTER  III. 

SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  EARTH  BY  THE  SONS  OF  NOAH  AND 
THEIR  POSTERITY. 

It  is  evident  from  the  words  of  the  sacred  historian,  that 
Vi^ben  the  earth  was  repeopled  after  the  flcod,  the  first  settle- 
ments w^ere  made  after  a  regular  manner.  He  says,  after 
enumerating  the  sons  of  Japhet,  "  by  these  were  the  isles  of 
the  Gentiles  divided  in  their  lands,  every  one  after  his  tongue, 
after  their  families,  in  their  nations."  (Gen.  xv.)  In  the  same 
manner  he  concludes  his  account  of  the  sons  of  Ham,  and  of 
Shem.  Thus  w^e  see  they  were  ranged,  first  according  to 
their  nations,  and  next  every  nation  was  ranged  by  its  fami- 
nes; so  that  every  nation  had  its  separate  allotment,  and  in 
every  nation  the  families  dwelt  and  had  their  separate  allot- 


16  eCRIFrUltE    GEOGRAPHY. 

ments.  This  we  think  is  the  meaning  of  the  text,  "  accord- 
ing to  their  families,  in  their  lands,  in  their  nations." 

Though  the  order  in  which  the  sons  of  Noah  are  mentioned, 
Gen.  V.  32,  and  in  other  passages  of  Scripture,  is  Shem,  Ham, 
and  Japhet,  yet  it  is  evident  from  Gen.  ix.  2"2.  24.  that  Ham 
was  the  youngest  son  of  Noah,  and  it  also  appears  (Gen.  x. 
21.)  that  Japhet  was  the  eldest.  In  the  Scripture  account, 
however,  of  these  patriarchs  and  their  families,  Japhet  is  first 
mentioned,  next  Ham,  and  lastly  Shem. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  give  an  account  of  the  division 
of  the  earth  among  the  posterity  of  Noah.  It  should  be 
recollected  that  in  these  primitive  times,  countries  were 
generally  named  from  their  first  settlers,  and  nations  fi'ora 
their  founder,  or  the  head  of  the  family  from  which  they  de- 
scended. 

I.  Descendants  of  Japhet. 

The  sons  of  Japhet  were  Gomer,  Magog,  Madai,  Javan, 
Tubal,  Meshech,  and  Tiras.  Of  these  seven  nations,  only  the 
families  of  two  are  mentioned,  viz.  those  of  Gomer  and  Ja- 
van, The  sons  of  Gomer  were  Ashkenaz,  Riphath,  and  To- 
garmah :  the  sons  of  Javan  were  Elishah,  Tarshish,  Kittim, 
and  Dodanim. 

I.  Settlements  of  Gomer  and  hisfajnily. 

The  nation  of  Gomer  appears  to  have  been  established  in 
the  northern  part  of  Lesser  Asia.  Josephus  says  that  the 
Galatians,  who  lived  about  the  southern  shore  of  the  Euxine 
or  Black  Sea,  were  called  Gomerites.  From  this  name  also 
is  probably  derived  timt  of  the  Kimmerii,  or  Cimraerii,  who 
dwelt  about  these  parts,  and  of  Cimmeris,  a  town  in  Phry- 
gia.  From  tliis  region  Gomer  is  believed  to  have  spread 
abroad  into  Europe,  peopling  the  countries  along  the  Danube, 
and  thence  westward  into  Germany,  France,  &:c. 

1.  Ashkenaz,  the  son  of  Gomer,  was  seated  in  the  western 
part  of  the  nation  of  Gomer,  which  was  the  north-west  of 
Asia  Minor.  In  Troas,  or  Lesser  Plirygia,  was  botli  a  city 
and  province  anciently  called  Ascania,  and  tlie  islands  along 
the  coast  were  called  Ascanian  isles;  also  in  Bithynia  is  a 
bay,  a  river,  and  a  lake,  called  likewise  Ascanian,  which 
name  is  very  probably  derived  from  Aslikcnaz.  Tiie  learned 
Bochart  conjectures  that  the  Black  Sea,  formerly  and  some- 
times yet  called  the  Euxine,  was  in  early  ages  called  the  sea 
cS  Ashkenaz,  from  the  settlement  of  that  family  on  its  coast 


DESCENDANTS    OF    JAPHET.  17 

Hence  by  the  Gree*ks  it  was  first  named  Pontus  Axenus,  in- 
stead of  Pontus  Ashkcnas,  and  thence  Pon-tus  Euxinus. 

2.  Riphath,  the  second  son  of  Gomer,  probably  settled  east 
of  his  brother  Ashkenaz.  For,  according  to  Josephus,  the 
Paphlagonians,  a  people  inhabiting  the  country  south-east  of 
the  Euxine,  were  originally  called  Riphateans,  from  Riphat. 
Pliny  also  mentions  a  people  called  Riphsi,  'who  lived  there, 
and  another  called  Arimphesi.  It  has,  however,  been  sup- 
posed by  some,  that  the  Riphsean  mountains,  mentioned  by 
the  Romans,  and  situated  in  the  country  north  of  the  Black 
Sea,  received  their  name  from  Riphath. 

3.  Togarmah,  the  third  and  last  mentioned  son  of  Goraer, 
appears  to  have  had  his  portion  still  further  east  than  hi? 
brethren ;  i.  e.  in  Armenia.  Very  ancient  records  preserved 
in  some  monasteries  in  the  east,  speak  of  a  man  named  Tar- 
gamos,  who  dwelt  in  a  fortress  on  JMount  Ararat,  and  lived 
to  the  age  of  six  hundred  years ;  being  the  father  of  eight 
sons,  from  whom,  it  is  stated,  are  descended  the  people  of 
Armenia,  and  other  nations  about  the  Caucasian  mountains. 
Ezekiel  speaks  of  the  "house  of  Togarmah  of  the  north 
quarters,  and  all  his  bands."  (Ezek.  xxxviii.  6.)  This,  with 
some  other  considerations,  have  induced  some  learned  com- 
mentators to  place  Togarmah  in  Cappadocia  rather  than  Ar- 
menia. 

II.  Settlement  of  Magog,  Son  ofJaphet. 

According  to  Josephus,  Jerom,  and  other  writers,  Magog 
was  the  father  of  the  Scythia,ns,  on  the  east  and  north-east 
of  the  Euxme.  Strabo  and  Stephanus  both  i  lention  a  coun- 
try situated  in  these  parts,  called  Gogarene ;  and  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  Georgia,  the  modern  name  of  this  country,  may 
have  been  derived  in  like  manner  from  Gog ;  the  people  being 
called  Georgi,  from  Gorgeni  or  Gogeni.  But  the  best  evi- 
dence of  the  situation  of  the  country  of  Jiagog  is  contained 
in  the  Scripture  itself,  (Ezek.  xxxviii.  2.)  "  Set  thy  face 
against  Gog,  of  the  land  of  Magog,  the  prince  of  Rosh,  Me- 
shech,  and  Tubal."  From,  this  we  learn  that  the  land  of  Ma- 
gog must  be  near  that  of  Rosh,  Meshech,  and  Tubal,  the 
situation  of  which  is  known ;  and  if  near  them,  it  could  only 
be  on  the  north  of  them. 

III.  Country  of  Madai,  Son  of  JapTiet. 

It  is  the  general  opinion  of  writers  on  this  subject,  tliat 
Madai  was  the  father  of  the  Medes,  and  consequently  must 
have  settled  in  the  country  about  the  south  and  south-west 
B2 


18  fiWJRIPTUFE   GEOGRAPHY. 

of  the  Caspian  Sea,  afterwards  called  Media.  The  ground 
for  this  location  of  Madai  is,  that  the  Medes  are  called  Madai 
in  the  Hebrew  text  of  Scripture. 

Bat  some  learned  commentators  have  been  of  a  different 
opinion.  They  consider  that  as  Media  lay  far  north-east  of 
the  Holy  Land,  and  of  Egypt,  and  as  the  passage  from  one  to 
the  other  was  by  land  and  not  by  sea,  consequently  Media  can- 
not well  be  considered  as  being  comprehended  under  the  term 
"isles  of  the  Gentiles,"  which  the  sacred  historian  says  were 
peopled  by  the  posterity  of  Japhet.  Moreover,  the  situation 
of  Media  seems  to  indicate  that  if  originally  possessed  by  Ma- 
dai, he  must  have  been  widely  separated  from  the  rest  of  his 
brethren,  and  to  have  lain  within  the  lot  of  Shem,  instead  of 
the  general  lot  of  his  father  Japhet.  There  was  a  descendant 
of  Shem,  called  also  Madai,  and  from  him  the  Medes  probably 
derived  their  origin  and  name. 

In  order  to  trace  the  descendants  of  Madai,  the  son  of  Ja 
phet,  within  the  bounds  of  his  father's  allotment,  the  learned 
Mr.  Mede  supposes  we  must  look  to  JMacedonia,  the  ancient 
name  of  which  was  /Emathia,  Aimatliia,  or  Aimadia,    A  peo- 
ple in  this  country  were  also  called  Medi,  or  Mcodi ;  all  which 
names  may  have  been  originally  derived  from  Madai. 
IV.    The  Country  of  Javan  and  his  family. 
The  nation  of  Javan  was  first  seated  in  the  southern  part 
of  Asia  Minor,  as  appears  not  only  from  the  name  of  a  coun- 
try here  called  Ionia,  but  also  from  the  four  families  of  Javan's 
sons  Elishah,  Tarshish,  Kittim,  and  Dodanim,  who  were  all 
settled  in  this  region.  The  name  Ionia  is  derived  from  Javan, 
which  is  also  written  in  Hebrew  Ian  and  lowan,  hy  the  LXX. 
and  by  Josephus.     Javan  is  the  term  used  in  the  Old  Tes^<t- 
ment  for  Greece  and  the  Greeks. 

1.  Elishah,  the  son  of  Javan.  This  name  in  the  Samaritan 
IS  written  Elish  or  Elis,  and  in  the  Clialdee  Alas,  which  near- 
ly approaches  Hellas,  the  name  which  the  Greeks  called  their 
own  country :  according  to  Josephus,  Eolia  was  named  frojn. 
Elishah.  The  Eolians  v/ere  anciently  settled  northward  from 
the  possessions  of  Javan,  and  hence  we  may  conclude  that 
Elishah  was  established  to  the  north  of  his  father.  The  pos- 
terity of  Elishah  probably  afterwards  possessed  themselves  of 
the  islands  in  the  Egean  Sea.,  between  Asia  and  Europe,  call- 
ed in  Ezekiel,  (chap,  xxvii.  7.)  the  isles  of  Elisha.  These 
people  passing  afterwards  into  Europe,  were  called  Hellenes, 
and  their  coutilry  Hellas^  which  afterwards  became  a  general 


DESCENDANTS   OF   JAPHET.  19 

term  for  the  whole  of  Greece.  The  city  and  province  of  Elis, 
the  city  of  Eleusis,  and  the  river  Elissus  or  Ilissus,  are  all  pro- 
bably derived  from  Elish,  or  Elisha. 

2.  Tarshhli,  the  son  of  Javan,  was  probably  settled  on  the 
eastern  part  of  the  southern  coast  of  Asia  Minor.  Josephas 
says  that  Tarsus,  the  chief  city  of  Cilicia,  was  founded  by 
Tarshish,  and  that  the  province  of  Cilicia  itself  was  ancient- 
ly called  Tarshish.  This  is  conjectured  to  be  the  place  to 
which  Jonah  thought  to  flee  f-om  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 
(Jon.  i.  3.)  Tartessus,  an  ancient  city  in  Spain,  was  probably 
built  by  a  colony  f-om  Tarshish;  for,  as  tliey  were  evidently 
a  sea-faring-  and  commercial  people,  they  might  easily  extend 
their  voyages  in  the  Mediterranean  as  far  as  the  coast  of  Spain. 
Indeed  the  whole  isleditorranean  seems  to  have  been  called 
the  Sea.  of  Tarshish ;  though  probably  this  name  was  origin- 
ally applied  only  to  that  part  of  it  lying  near  Tarshish,  i.  e.  the 
Sea  of  Cilicia,  at  the  head  of  which  Tarsus  or  Tarshish  was 
built.     See  Tai^shish,  Part  II. 

3.  Kittim,  having  the  plural  Hebrew  termination,  probably 
means  the  descendants  of  Ketli,  who  appear  to  have  had  their 
portion  west  of  Tarshish.  Ptolemy  mentions  a  country  here, 
called  Ketis,  or  Cetis;  and  Homer  speaks  of  a  people  called 
Cetii,  who  took  their  name  from  the  river  Cetius  in  the  same 
region.  Josephus  says  Cyprus  v/as  the  seat  of  the  Kittim,  or 
Chittim  ;  but  as  it  was  in  their  neighbourhood,  it  Vv^as  probably 
colonized  by  them,  as  the  continent  would  naturally  be  peo- 
pled before  the  islands.  The  Kittim,  in  process  of  time,  want- 
ing room,  and  finding  the  lower  parts  of  Greece  already  set- 
tled by  the  descendants  of  Elishah  and  the  Dodanim,  probably 
coasted  along  the  western  shore  of  Greece  to  the  northern 
parts,  where  some  settled  and  others  passed  over  into  Italy. 
Hence  it  happens  that  we  find  both  Macedonia  and  Italy  de- 
noted in  Scripture  by  the  name  of  Chittim.  (1  Mace.  i.  1.  also 
viii.  5,  Dan.  xi.  29,  30.) 

4.  Dodanim,  also  plural  in  Hebrew,  means  the  family  of 
Dodan,  son  of  Javan.  The  Dodanim  were  settled  on  the  coast 
south  of  the  family  of  Elishah,  where  there  w^as  anciently  a 
country  called  Doris,  from  which  came  the  Dorians,  a  consi- 
derable part  of  the  Greek  nation.  The  name  is  also  preserved 
in  the  city  of  Dodona. 

V.  Country  of  Meshech. 

The  possessions  of  Meshech  appear  to  have  been  at  first 
situated  east  of  Gomer,  in  part  of  Cappadocia  and  Armenia. 


20  SCRIPTURE   GEOGllAPHY. 

The  name  written  Mesliech  in  our  translation,  is  by  others 
written  Mosoch,  and  hence  it  seems  probable  that  the  people 
called  by  the  Greeks  Mosoclii  or  Moschi,  who  inhabited  these 
parts,  were  descendants  of  Mosoch  or  Mcshech.  In  Armenia 
was  a  river  and  country  named  Rosh,  and  a  people  named 
Rhossi.  These  Rhossi  aiid  ]\Ioschi,  who  were  neighbours  in 
Asia,  afterwards  crossed  into  Europe,  dispersed  over  the  vast 
empire  of  Russia,  and  their  names  are  still  preserved  m  those 
of  the  Russians  and  Muscovites. 

VL  Country  of  Tubal. 

Tubal  and  Meshech  being  frequently  mentioned  together  in 
scripture,  we  may  reasonably  infer  that  they  were  seated  ad- 
joining each  other.  Tubal  was  probably  settled  on  the  nortJi 
of  Meshech,  as  Josephus  affirms  that  the  Asiatic  Iberians  were 
descended  from  Twbal,  and  says  they  were  originally  called 
Theobeli,  from  Thubal  or  Tubal.  A  city  is  also  mentioned  by 
Ptolemy  as  situated  in  this  region,  called  Thabilaca,  which 
may  be  derived  from  Tubal.  We  read  in  scripture  that  these 
nations  were  merchants,  and  traded  in  slaves  and  vessels  of 
brass.  (Ezek.  xxvii.  13.)  Now  this  agrees  well  with  the 
country  where  we  have  placed  them ;  for  the  regions  about 
Pontus  and  Cappadocia  were  noted  for  slaves,  and  Tibarenia 
and  Iberia  produced  excellent  brass. 

VII.   Country  of  Tiras. 

All  writers  agree  tliat  Tiras,  son  of  Japhet,  was  the  father 
of  the  Thracians.  Besides  the  evident  derivation  of  the  name 
Thrace  from  Thiras,  the  founder  of  tlie  nation,  we  have  also 
the  name  Atliyras  applied  to  a  river,  a  bay,  and  a  haven.  There 
was  also  in  the  peninsula  of  Thrace  a  city  called  Tyristasis, 
a  region  called  Thrasus,  and  a  people  called  Trausi.  One  of 
the  names  of  J\Iars,  the  god  of  the  Thracians,  was  Thura.% 
which  might  have  been  given  in  honour  of  tiieir  founder,  Thi- 
ras or  Tiras.  Some  have  supposed  that  the  Trojans  Vv'ere  also 
descendants  of  Tiras,  from  the  similarity  of  Tros  to  Tiras ; 
and  from  the  ancient  Greeks  having  a  tradition  that  the  peo- 
ple east  of  the  Hellespont  and  Propontis  were  originally  Thra- 
cians. 

n.  Descendants  of  Shem. 

There  are  five  sons  of  Shem  mentioned  in  scripture ;  name- 
ly, Elam,  Asshur,  Arphaxad,  Lud,  and  iVram.  Of  two  of  these, 
Arphaxad  and  Aram,  the  sons  are  designated. 


DESCENDANTS   OF   SUEM.  21 

I.  Elam,  son  of  Shem. 

It  is  considered  certain  that  Elam  was  settled  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  region  east  of  the  Tigris,  as  the  Scripture 
evidently  and  frequently  denotes  the  inhabitants  of  that  coun- 
try by  the  name  of  Elam.  We  also  read  in  heathen  writers 
of  a  country  in  the  same  place,  and  a  city,  both  called  Ely- 
mais.  Like  many  other  names  of  places,  Elam  is  sometimes 
talicn  in  a  stricter  sense,  by  which  it  is  distinguished  from 
Susiana  and  the  other  Persian  provinces ;  and  sometimes  in  a 
more  comprehensive  sense,  including  Susiana  and  the  other 
provinces.  Thus  Pliny  and  Ptolemy  speak  of  the  Elymaiias 
a  people  dwelling  on  the  Persian  Gulf;  and  the  prophet  Dan- 
iel (viii.  2.)  mentions  Shushan,  the  chief  city  of  Susiana,  as 
being  situated  in  Elam.  Elam  in  Scripture  is  used  to  denote 
the  kingdom  of  Persia,  until  the  age  of  Cyrus  and  Daniel  the 
prophet ;  after  which  time  it  is  generally  called  by  its  (jreek 
name,  Persis,  or  Persia. 

II.  Asshur,  son  of  Shem. 

Asshur  was  established  in  the  country  called  in  the  oriental 
languages  after  his  name,  Asshur ;  but  in  the  western  Ian 
guages  it  w^as  called  Assyria,  also  derived  from  the  name  of 
its  founder.  By  Assyria  is  here  to  be  understood  the  country 
properly  and  originally  so  called,  in  which  was  the  city  of 
Nineveh,  built  by  Asshur  after  he  w^ent  out  of  the  land  of 
Shinar.  (Gen.  x.  11.)  Some  however  understand  this  text  to 
mean  that  Nineveh  v^^as  built  by  Nimrod,  after  he  went  out 
into  Asshur  or  Assyria.  (See  Part  II.  Article  Assyria.) 

III.  Arphaxad,  son  of  Shem. 

It  is  believed  that  Arphaxad  settled  in  Mesopotamia,  in  the 
southern  part,  near  the  Tigris,  and  also  occupied  a  tract  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  called  Arrapacliitis,  a  name  evident- 
ly derived  from  Arpachshad,  for  so  is  the  name  written  in 
the  Hebrew  text. 

Of  the  dwelling  place  of  Salah  the  son,  and  Eber  the 
grandson  of  Arphaxad,  nothing  is  known  with  certainty ;  but 
they  probably  remained  in  Mesopotamia.  Eber  was  the  fore- 
father of  the  Llebrews,  and  the  father  of  Pel  eg  and  Joktan. 
There  are  thirteen  sons  of  Joktan  mentioned  in  Scripture, 
"  and  their  dwelling  was  fi-om  Mesha  as  thou  goest  unto  Se- 
phar,  a  mount  of  the  east."  (Gen.  x.  30.)  Mesha  is  supposed 
to  be  the  country  which  the  Greeks  called  1*1  esene,  near  the 
head  of  the  Persian  Gulf;  Sephar  is  supposed  to  lie  near  the 
•Red  Sea ;  consequently,  the  posterity  of  Joktan  were  settled 


22  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

in  Arabia.  Some  writers,  however,  do  not  incline  to  tliis 
opinion,  but  thinlc  that  Mesha  is  a  mountain  in  the  west  of 
Armenia,  and  Scphar  another  farther  eastward. 

IV.  Lud,  the  son  of  Shcm. 

It  is  the  general  opinion  tliat  Lud  peopled  Lydia,  a  country 
in  Asia  Minor ;  but  some  suppose  that  his  descendants  were 
settled  in  Africa,  as  there  is  a  people  called  Lud,  who  lived 
here.  (Isa.  Ixvi.  19.  Jer.  xlvi.  9.  Ezek.  xxvii.  10.  xxx.  5.) 
These  however  probably  descended  from  Lud,  the  son  of  Mis- 
raim,  called  in  the  plural  Ludim.  (Gen.  x.  13.) 

V.  Aram,  the  son  of  Shem. 

Tlie  portion  of  Aram  lay  in  Armenia,  Mesopotamia,  and 
Syria;  and  Armenia,  or  Aramenia,  probably  derived  its  name 
from  Aram.  The  country  called  in  the  Hebrew  text  Aram, 
is  frequently  translated  Syria ;  but  this  is  not  to  be  understood 
as  comprehending-  the  whole  of  Syria,  but  only  that  part  of  it 
which  belonged  to  tlie  nation  of  Aram ;  namely,  the  northern 
and  eastern  parts.  Syria  is,  indeed,  sometimes  used  to  denote, 
not  only  Syria  Proper,  but  also  Mesopotamia:  for  instance, 
we  find  Jacob,  who  is  called  in  the  Hebrew  an  Aramite,  is  in 
our  translation  called  a  Syrian,  (Hosea  xii.  12.)  and  it  was  in 
Padan  Aram  in  Mesopotamia  vvhere  he  " served  for  a.  wife 
and  kept  sheep." 

1.  f/r,  the  son  of  Aram. — The  ancients  agree  that  Uz  was 
the  builder  of  tlie  city  of  Damascus.  From  this  we  may 
reasonably  infer  that  the  land  of  Uz  denoted  the  country 
about  Damascus,  including  part  of  Arabia.  This  may  agree 
with  what  is  said  in  Scripture  with  regard  to  the  dwelling  of 
Job,  and  also  of  the  situation  of  Edom,  both  of  which  are 
said  to  be  in  the  land  of  Uz. 

2.  Hid,  the  son  of  Aram. — It  has  been  supposed  that  the 
settlement  of  Hul  was  in  Greater  Armenia,  as  we  find  there 
the  names  of  several  places  containing  the  radical  letters 
of  Hul  or  Chul.  Cholobetcne,  the  name  of  a  province  in  Ar- 
menia, seems  to  have  been  derived  from  the  Hebrew  Cholbeth, 
i.  e.  the  house  or  dwelling  of  Choi.  Also  Cholua,  Choluata, 
Cholimna,  &c. 

3.  Get  her,  son  of  Aram. — Nothing  certain  is  known  of  the 
portion  of  Gethor.  Some  have  conjectured  thnt  it  was  in 
Albania  which  borders  on  Armenia,  as  Ptolemy  mentions  a 
city  of  that  country,  formerly  called  Gctarce,  and  a  river 
called  Getras,  both  which  names  may  possibly  be  derived 
from  G  ether  or  Geter. 


DESCENDANTS   OF   HAM.  23 

4.  Meshech,  or  Mash,  son  of  Aram. — Mash  is  supposed  to 
have  settled  between  his  brothers  Uz  and  Hul,  having  Hul 
to  the  north  and  Uz  to  the  south :  his  portion  lying  about 
Mount  Masius,  which  is  thought  to  have  been  named  after 
him.  From  this  mountain  runs  a  river  of  Mesopotamia, 
called  Masca ;  and  the  people  of  this  region  were  anciently 
called  Masieni,  or  JMasiani,  from  all  which  it  may  be  reasona- 
bly inferred  that  this  was  the  country  of  Mash,  or  Meshech. 

III.  Descendants  of  Ham. 

As  Ham  was  the  youngest  son  of  Noah,  consequently  his 
descendants  formed  the  youngest  branch  of  Noah's  posterity: 
and  may  be  distinguished  into  four  nations,  headed  by  the 
four  sons  of  Ham ;  Cush,  ?.Iisraim,  Phut,  and  Canaan. 

The  sons  of  Cush,  were  Seba,  Havilah,  Sabtah,  Raamah, 
and  Sabtecha.  Sons  of  Raamah,  Sheba  and  Dedan.  It  is 
added  afterwards  that  Cush  begat  Nimrod,  "  who  began  to  be 
a  mighty  one  in  the  earth,"  &c. 

From  Misraim  descended  Ludim,  Ananim,  Lehabim, 
Naphtuhim,  Pathrusim,  and  Casluhim.  From  the  last  came 
Philistim  and  Caphtorim.  These,  having  all  the  plural 
Hebrew  termination  im,  denote  the  families  of  Lud,  Anan, 
Lehab,  Naphtuch,  Pathros,  and  Casluch,  the  sons  of  Misraim. 

None  of  the  sons  of  Phut  are  mentioned  in  Scripture. 

From  Canaan  descended  the  following  nations;  namely, 
Sidon,  Heth,  the  Jebusites,  Amorites,  Girgasites,  Hivites, 
Arkites,  Sinites,  Arvadites,  Zemarites,  and  Hamathites. 

I.  Cush,  the  son  of  Ham. 

It  is  thought  that  the  first  settlement  of  Cush  was  on  the 
Gulf  of  Persia,  in  that  part  which  still  bears  the  name  of 
Chuzestan ;  from  whence  they  spread  over  India  and  great 
part  of  Arabia,  particularly  the  western  part,  on  the  coast  of 
the  Red  Sea ;  invaded  Egypt  under  the  name  of  Palli,  Hyc- 
sos,  or  Shepherd  Kings ;  and  thence  passed  probably  as  well 
as  Ijy  the  Straits  of  Babelmandel,  into  Central  Africa,  and 
first  peopled  the  countries  to  the  south  of  Egypt,  or  African 
Ethiopia. 

It  iseems  evident  from  Scripture  that  the  family  of  Cush 
had  made  settlements  in  the  north-west  of  Arabia ;  for  we  are 
toM  that  Moses  had  miarried  a  Cushite  or  Ethiopian  woman. 
(Numb.  xii.  1.)  Now,  from  Exod.  ii.  1.5-21.  it  is  certain  that 
Zipporah,  the  wife  of  Moses,  was  a  Midianitish  woman,  and 
Midian  was  in  Arabia,  on  the  Red  Sea, 


"H  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

The  word  Cush  in  Scripture  is  frequently  translated  Ethio- 
pia, but  certainly  does  not  always  mean  Ethiopia  in  Africa ; 
though  it  is  probable  that  Isaiah  xviii.  1.  Zeph.  iii.  10.  and 
2  Chron.  xii.  3.  do  refer  to  African  Ethiopia.  (See  Cush, 
Part  II.) 

1.  Seba,  the  eldest  son  of  Cush,  is  thoug'ht  by  some,  to  have 
settled  in  the  south-west  of  Arabia,  where  wo  lind  a  city 
called  Sabe.  Others,  however,  place  him  in  Nubia,  on  an 
island  formed  by  the  Nile  and  other  rivers,  which  island  was 
called  by  the  Hebrews  Seba,  (Isa.  xliii.  3.)  and  by  the  Romans 
JNIeroe.  (See  Part  II.  art.  Sheba.) 

2.  Havilah,  the  son  of  Cush,  probably  established  himself 
on  the  northern  coast  of  the  Persian  Gulf  A  people  are  men- 
tioned by  the  old  Greek  writers  as  dwelling  here,  called 
Chaulotse,  Chaulasii,  or  Chavelsei,  a  name  most  likely  derived 
from  Chavilah  or  Havilah,  This  Havilah  must  not  be  con- 
founded with  a  son  of  Joktan  of  the  same  name.  (See  Part 
II.  art.  Havilah.) 

3.  Sabtah,  the  son  of  Cusli,  is  believed  by  some  writers  to 
have  settled  in  the  north  of  Arabia,  on  the  Persian  Gulf,  where 
stood  an  ancient  city  called  Saphtha,,  which  might  have  been 
named  from  him.  Others  place  him  at  Sabota,  in  Southern 
Arabia. 

4.  Raamah,  son  of  Cush,  is  generally  allowed  to  liave  set- 
tled in  South-eastern  Arabia,  where  a  city  was  situated, 
called  Rhegma,  after  his  name,  which,  though  spelled  Raamah 
in  our  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  is  in  other  versions  writ- 
ten Rhegma. 

Sheba  and  Dedan,  the  sons  of  Raamah,  were  doubtless  set- 
tled not  far  from  their  father,  as  we  find  in  the  same  region  a 
city  called  Sabana,  and  another  further  eastward,  formerly 
called  Dedan,  now  Daden.  As  further  proof  of  their  being 
settled  in  the  same  neighbourhood,  we  find  them  generally 
mentioned  together ;  as,  "  The  merchants  of  Sheba  and  Raa- 
mah were  thy  merchants."  (Ezek.  xxvii.  22.)  "  Sheba  and 
Dedan,  and  the  merchants  of  Tarshish."  (Ezek.  xxxviii.  13.) 

We  read  in  Pliny  that  the  Sabfean  nations  spread  them- 
selves from  the  Red  Sea  to  the  Gulf  of  Persia;  but  it  is  plain 
from  this  that  the  Greeks  confounded  the  two  families  of 
Sheba  and  Seba,  and  called  both  by  tiie  g-sneral  name  of  Sa- 
baians.  They  are,  however,  distinguished  from  each  other  in 
Scripture :  "  The  kings  of  Sheba  and  Seba  s-liall  oSer  gifts." 
(Psalm  Ixxii.  10.) 


DESCETsDANTS   OF  HAM.  25 

5.  Sabtecha,  the  son  of  Cush,  probably  settled  among  his 
Drethren  in  the  north  of  Arabia. 

6.  Nimrod,  the  son  of  Cush.  After  having  given  an  ac- 
count of  the  yens  and  grandsons  of  Cush,  the  sacred  historian 
adds,  "  And  Cush  begat  Nimrod,  who  began  to  be  a  mighty 
one  on  the  earth."  (Gen.  x.  8.  )  From  this  Vv^e  may  probably 
infer  that  he  was  the  youngest  son  of  Cush,  but  by  far  the 
most  noted.  It  is  probable  tliat  he  was  a  person  of  great  cour- 
age and  activity,  and  having  first  become  "  a  mighty  hunter," 
was  at  length  tempted  to  try  his  strength  in  war,  and  so  In- 
vaded the  neighbouring  regions,  belonging  to  the  family  of 
Arphaxad,  the  son  of  Shem.  Having  conquered  the  lower 
part  of  the  land  of  Shinar,  he  established  a  kingdom  there  ; 
"  and  the  beginning  of  his  kingdom  was  Babel  and  Erech  and 
Accad  and  Calneh,  in  the  land  of  Shmar."  (Gen.  x.  10.)  Of 
these  cities  we  have  already  spoken,  in  our  account  of  the 
Land  of  Shinar. 

In  Gen.  x.  11.  our  translation  of  the  Scripture  reads,  "  Out 
of  that  land  (the  land  of  Shinar)  went  forth  Asshur  and  built 
Nineveh ;"  by  which  is  generally  understood  Asshur,  the  son 
of  Shem.  But  the  names  Asshur  and  Assyria  being  the  same 
in  Hebrew,  the  text  wdll  also  read,  "out  of  that  land  he  went 
forth  to  Assyria  and  built  Neneveh  ;"  meanmg  that  Nimrod, 
after  building  Babel  and  other  cities  in  the  land  of  Shinar, 
went  forth  out  of  that  land  into  Assyria,  and  built  Nineveh. 
This  reading  is  given  in  the  m.argin  of  our  Bible,  and  is  sup- 
posed to  be  the  true  meaning  of  the  Hebrew  text,  as  Nine- 
veh w^as,  in  all  probability,  nam-ed  after  Ninus,  the  son  of  Nim- 
rod, Nin-nave  in  Hebrevv',  meaning  the  dw^elling  of  Ninus. 
Of  this  city,  and  the  others  built  by  the  same  founder,  we  shall 
treat  in  tire  second  part  of  this  work,  under  their  several 
heads. 

11.  Misraim,  the  son  of  Ham. — There  is  no  doubt  w^ith  re- 
gard to  the  settlements  of  Misraim,  as  in  Hebrew, l^gypt  is 
generally  called  the  land  of  Misraim,  or  simply  Misraim ;  and 
to  this  day  the  Arabs  call  it  Masr,  and  the  Turks  il/i.sr.  (See 
Part  11.  Article  Egypt.) 

1.  The  Ludhn,  or  descendants  of  Lud,  son  of  Misraim.  It 
is  generally  believed  that  the  country  and  people  called  Lud 
and  Ludim  in  Scripture  refer  to  the  African  Ethiopians,  which 
people  were  celebrated  for  their  skill  in  archery  by  the  ancient 
writers.  Nov/  this  agrees  with  what  is  said  of  the  Ludim  in 
Scripture  (Jer.  xlvi.  9.  and  Isa.  Ixvi.  19.) :  also  in  the  same 
C 


26  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

text  of  Isaiah,  Lud  and  Phul  are  mentioned  together,  imply- 
ing that  they  were  neighbours. 

2>  The  Anamlm  are  supposed  to  be  the  people  afterwards 
called  Ammonians,  who  dwelt  in  the  parts  west  of  Egypt, 
about  the  temple  of  Jupiter  Ammon. 

3.  The  Lehabim  are  conjectured  to  have  peopled  Libya, 
which  name  Lehabya,  might  have  been  derived  from  Lehab, 
their  ancestor.  The  name  Libya,  though  afterwards  extended 
to  nearly  the  whole  African  continent,  yet  originally  was 
applied  only  to  the  country  of  Cyrenaica  on  the  west  of 
Egypt. 

4.  The  NophluMm  are  thought  by  some  writers  to  have 
inhabited  the  country  adjoining  to  Libya  proper,  towards 
Egypt;  but  others  place  them  between  Egypt  and  Arabia. 

5.  The  Pathrusim,  or  family  of  Pathros,  are  agreed  by  all 
to  have  been  settled  in  Thebais,  a  district  of  Upper  Egypt, 
where  stood  Pathyris,  a  place  mentioned  by  the  Greeks  as 
being  near  Egyptian  Thebes.  The  Hebrew  word  Pathros  is, 
in  the  septuagint  copy  of  the  Scriptures,  translated  Pathyris. 

6.  The  Casluhbn  are  supposed  to  have  occupied  a  country 
east  of  Egypt  called  Casiotis,  in  which  is  a  mount  Casius, 
which  names  bear  some  resemblance  to  Casluch.  And  fur- 
ther to  conlirm  this  location,  we  read  that  from  the  Casluhim 
sprang  the  Pliilistim,  whom  we  find  afterwards  in  the  adjoin- 
ing parts  of  Canaan. 

7.  The  Caphforim  were  doubtless  settled  contiguous  to  the 
Casluhim ;  for  thougli  the  Philistines  are  said  (Gen.  x.  14.)  to 
have  come  out  of  the  Casluhim,  yet  (l)eut.  ii.  23.  Jer.  xlvii. 
4.  Amos  ix.  7.)  they  arc  brouglit  from  Caphtor,  or  the  Caph- 
torim.  Now  as  the  Caphtorim  and  Casluhim  were  neighbours, 
they  were  probably  in  course  of  time  so  intermixed  as  to  be 
accounted  but  one  people,  called  either  Caphtorim  or  Caslu- 
him. Some  are  of  opinion  that  the  Copts  or  Cophtes  of 
Eg3^pt  have  derived  tlieir  name  from  Caphtor. 

III.  Phut,  the  son  of  Hmn. 

The  nation  of  Phut  is  generally  admitted  to  have  been  first 
established  in  Libya,  west  of  the  family  of  Misraim,  and 
thence  extending  westward  into  IMauritania,  in  which  is  a 
river  called  PJiut,  mentioned  by  Ptolemy,  and  also  by  St.  Je- 
rom,  who  says  the  adjacent  country  was  called  Regio  Phu- 
tensis,  the  country  of  Phut. 

IV.  Canaan,  son  of  Ham. 

Canaan  and  his  posterity  were  settled  in  the  country  called 


DESCENDANTS    OF    HAM.  27 

after  his  name,  the  Land  of  Canaan,  which  God  afterwards 
gave  for  an  inheritance  to  the  c'lildren  of  Israel,  or  the  seed 
of  Abrtiham.  This  country  is  important,  from  its  bcin^"  sc 
frequently  mentioned  in  Scripture ;  and  the  situations  of  the 
several  nations  descended  from  the  posterity  of  Canaan,  re- 
quire to  be  particularly  described,  in  order  for  the  better  mi- 
derstanding  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  sacred  history. 

The  land  of  Canaan  lay  east  and  south-east  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,  having  the  country  of  Aram,  the  son  of  Shem, 
north  and  north-east ;  Cush,  the  son  of  Ham,  south  and  south- 
east ;  Misraim  south-west;  and  the  Mediterranean  west.  These 
were  the  general  limits  of  the  country  originally  ;  but  as  the 
sacred  history  informs  us,  (Gen.  x.  18.)  "afterwards  were  the 
families  of  the  Canaanites  spread  abroad :"  i.  e.  some  of  them 
extended  their  settlements  among  the  neighbouring  nations. 

1.  Sido7i,  the  first-born  of  Canaan. 

The  settlement  of  Sidon  was  in  the  western  p3.rt  of  the  land 
of  Canaan,  on  the  sea-coast,  as  is  evident  from  the  situation  of 
Sidon,  a  famous  city  called  after  his  name.  Not  far  from  this, 
to  the  southward,  in  the  same  country,  was  Tyre,  a  city  an- 
ciently celebrated  for  -its  wealth  and  commerce.  These  tvv^o 
cities  are  frequently  mentioned  together  in  Scripture,  but  it  is 
evident  that  the  Tyrians  were  a  colony  of  Sidonians,  as  in 
Isaiah  xxiii.  12.  Tyre  is  called  the  daughter  of  Sidon.  Tyre 
is  not  spoken  of  in  the  sacred  history  until  the  time  of  kmg 
David,  except  in  Joshua  xix.  29 ;  and  as  in  the  preceding  verse 
Sidon  is  called  the  great,  it  is  manifest  that  Sidon  was  then 
the  chief  city.  Aftervv^ards,  however.  Tyre  became  its  supe- 
rior.   Homer  speaks  of  the  Sidonians,  but  not  of  the  Tyrians. 

2.  The  Hittites,  or  the  Children  of  Heth. 

This  is  the  second  of  the  fimilies  of  Canaanites  mentioned 
in  Scripture.  The  children  of  Heth  were  settled  in  the  south- 
ern part  of  Canaan,  about  Hebron,  as  is  proved  from  Gen. 
xxiii.  3,  where  it  is  said  that  x'\braham  bought  of  the  sons  of 
Heth  a  buryins'-place,  wliere  he  might  bury  his  wife  Sarah, 
who  died  in  Hebron.  Further,  (Gen.  xxvi.)  during  Isaac's 
sojourning  at  Beersheba,  which  was  also  in  the  south  of  Ca- 
naan, Esau,  his  son,  married  the  daughters  of  Beeri  and  Elon, 
both  Hittites. 

3.  The  Jebusites.  This  family  possessed  the  tract  of  coun- 
try about  Jerusalem,  which  was  originally  called  Jehus,  ac- 
cording to  1  Chron.  xi.  4.  v/hers  we  are  expressly  told  that 


28  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

the  Jebusites  were  the  inhabitants  of  the  land :  so  they  were 
situated  in  the  mountains  north  of  the  Hittites. 

4.  Amorites.  The  moujitains  east  and  south-east  of  Hebron, 
were  the  abode  of  the  Amorites ;  for  in  Dent.  i.  7,  19.  the 
mountainous  tract  near  Kadesh-barnea  is  called  the  Mount  of 
the  Amorites :  and  in  Gen.  xiv.  7,  we  read  of  the  Amorites  in 
Hazezontamar,  which  was  the  same  place  as  Enafedi,  (2  Chron. 
XX.  2.)  situate  in  the  hilly  country  in  the  east  of  Canaan  to- 
wards Jordan.  Hence  the  Amorites  passed  over  Jordan,  and 
dispossessing  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites  of  some  of  their 
finest  provinces,  established  a  kmg-dom  east  of  the  river  Jor- 
dan, and  north  of  the  Arnon,  of  which  Heshbon  was  the  cap- 
ital. Sihon  was  king*  of  tliis  country  Vvhen  the  Israelites  con- 
quered it  on  their  way  from  Egypt. 

5.  The  Girgashites.  These  people  were  probably  settled 
along  the  upper  part  of  the  river  Jordan,  and  to  the  east 
of  the  Sea  of  Galilee  or  Gennesareth,  where,  in  the  time  of 
our  Saviour,  was  a  city  called  Gergesa,  and  the  people  Ger- 
gesenes,  both  of  which  names  are  probably  derived  from  Gir- 
gash. 

6.  The  Hivites.  The  original  settlement  of  the  Hivites 
was  in  the  northern  part  of  Canaan,  about  Mount  Lebanon, 
(Judges  iii.  3.)  but  like  many  other  families  of  the  Canaan- 
ites,  were  afterwards  dispossessed  by  their  enemies,  and 
forced  to  seek  a  possession  elsewhere.  Sometimes  also  it 
probably  happened  that  they  cliose  to  remove,  or  became  in- 
termixed with  other  families;  so  that  we  frequently  read  of 
them  as  being  situated  in  otlier  places  than  those  which  we 
m^ention  as  their  first  settlements. 

7.  The  Arkites.  The  ^Vrkites  are  believed  to  have  inhabit- 
ed about  Mount  Lebanon,  in  the  north  of  Canaan,  in  wliich 
region  a  city  is  mentioned  by  old  writers,  called  Arce. 

8.  The  Si7iites.  These  people  are  conjectured  to  have 
dwelt  near  the  last,  as  St.  Jerom  mentions  a  city  which  once 
Btood  in  the  region  adjoining,  called  Sin,  probably  retaining 
sometiiing  of  the  ancient  name  of  the  peoj)le. 

9.  The  ArvndlU'S.  An  island  near  the  coast  of  Syria,  call- 
ed Arndus,  is  thought  to  liave  received  its  name  from  this  fam- 
ily, who  might  have  occupied  it,  as  well  as  part  of  the  adjoin- 
ing continent  in  the  north-western  part  of  Canaan. 

10.  The  Zeinariles.  Near  the.  last  mentioned  people>  on 
the  coast,  is  conjectured  to  have  been  the  seat  of  the  Zemar- 
ites ;  for  here  was  a  city  called  Simyra.     There  was  also  a 


SOJOURNING   OF   ABRAHAM.  29 

city  called  Zemaraim  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  north  of  Je- 
rusalem, which  probably  derived  its  name  from  some  of  this 
people.  (Josh,  xviii.  22.) 

11.  The  Hamathites.  On  the  borders  of  Syria,  in  the 
north-east  of  Canaan,  was  situated  the  city  of  Hamath,  which 
marks  the  settlement  of  tliis  family.  The  entrance  of  Ha- 
math (1  Kings,  viii.  65.)  seems  to  have  been  a  mountain  pass, 
leading  from  the  north  of  Israel  into  Syria,  and  in  this  text  is 
mentioned  as  the  extreme  northern  boundary  of  the  country 
of  the  Israelites. 

There  were  other  nations  inhabiting  the  parts  about  Ca 
naan,  such  as  the  Avim,  the  Horites,  the  Emim,  the  Zumim 
and  Rephaim.  From  Vv'hom  these  were  descended  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  tell.  The  Avim  inhabited  the  country  south-west  of 
Gaza,  on  the  borders  of  the  desert.  The  Horites  dwelt  about 
Mount  Seir,  to  the  south  of  Canaan,  adjacent  to  the  wilder- 
ness of  Paran. 

The  Emim,  Zuzim,  and  Rephaim  were  gigantic  people 
dwelling  south-east,  east,  and  north-east,  of  Canaan. 

Of  the  Amalekites,  Moabites,  &.c.  we  shall  speak  in  another 
4?lace. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

THE  SOJOURNING  OF  ABRAHAM. 

About  2083  years  after  the  creation  of  the  world,  Terah, 
the  father  of  Abraham,  left  his  home  in  Ur  of  the  Chaldees, 
and  taking  with  him  Abraham,  his  son.  Lot,  his  grandson,  and 
Sarai,  Abraham's  wife,  departed  to  go  into  Canaan ;  but  being 
come  to  Haran,  they  dwelt  there.  (Gen.  xi.  31.) 

1.  Vr  of  the  Chaldees. 

With  regard  to  the  situation  of  Ur,  learned  men  have  not 
well  agi^eed.  Chaldea  was  the  country  lying  on  both  sides  of 
ihe  Euphrates,  extending  southward  to  the  P^sian  Gulf,  and 
northward  into  Mesopotamia  ;  being  about  th«Kame  resion  as 
that  called  the  Land  of  Shinar.  The  word  ftanslated  Chal- 
dea, is  in  Hebrew  Chasdim,  whence  it  has  been  thought  pro- 
bable that  the  country  received  its  name  from  Chesed,  one  of 
the  sons  of  Nahor,  Abraham's  brother. 

Ur  has  been  supposed  by  some  to  have  been  situated  on  the 
Tigris,  in  Mesopotamia,  or  the  northern  part  of  Chaldea, 
where  a  city  of  the  same  name  was  found  by  the  Romans,  on 
C2 


30  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

their  march  towards  Nisibis  ;  but  as  this  was  not  in  Chaldea 
proper,  olliers  have  been  induced  to  look  much  farther  south. 
Accordingly,  in  the  very  heart  of  Chaldea,  between  the  Ti- 
gris and  the  Euphrates,  a  city  is  found,  called  Orcha  by  Ptol- 
emy, and  Ura  by  Josephus,  which  they  suppose  to  be  the  native 
city  of  Abraham.  It  appears,  however,  from  xAiCts  vii.  2,  3,  4. 
that  Ur  must  have  been  in  Mesopotamia,  which  was  some- 
times called  the  Land  of  the  Chaldees. 

2.  Of  liar  an. 

The  name  of  the  place  called  Haran  in  our  translation,  is 
written  in  Hebrew  Charan,  and  in  Greek  Charran.  It  is 
supposed  to  have  received  its  name  from  liaran,  the  father  of 
Lot  and  brother  of  Abraham  ;  and  may  have  been  named  by 
Terah,  in  remembrance  of  his  deceased  son.  Here  Terah 
died  after  a  residence  of  some  time.  To  this  place  also  Jacob 
afterwards  retired  from  the  anger  of  his  brother,  and  dwelt 
with  Laban.  (Gen.  xxvii.  4.3.)  Haran  was  called  Charras  by 
the  Romans,  and  is  celebrated  in  their  history  as  the  scene  of 
a  great  defeat  of  tlie  Roman  army  under  Crassus,  by  the  Par- 
thian s. 

Tills  place  is  yet  called  Ilarran,  and  is  peopled  by  a  few 
families  of  wandering  Arabs,  wb.o  have  been  attracted  thither 
by  a  plentiful  supply  of  water  from  several  small  streams. 

In  Haran,  Abraham  was  called  of  God  to  proceed  to  a  • 
country  which  he  would  show  him,  and  wliere  he  was  to  be 
a  great  nation :  so  lie  arose,  and  took  liis  wife,  and  Lot,  his 
brother's  son,  and  all  their  substance,  and  went  forth  to  go  into 
the  Land  of  Canaan.  He  next  came  to  the  place  of  Sichera 
and  the  plain  of  Moreh, 

3.  Slchem  and  the  Plain  of  Moreh. 

Sichem  is  also  called  Sychem,  Sechcm,  and  Shechem,  in 
Scripture :  it  is  the  place  called  Sychar  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment. It  received  its  name  from  ShecJiem,  the  son  of  Ha- 
mor,  the  Canaanite ;  and  is  a  city  of  Samaria,  near  the  par- 
cel of  ground  Which  Jacob  bought  of  Hamor  and  gave  to  his 
son  Joseph,  wl^|p  bones  were  buried  here  when  brought  out 
of  Egypt.  (Josm  xxiv.  32.)  On  the  same  piece  of  ground 
was  also  Jacob's  well,  wiierc  our  Saviour  spake  with  the 
woman  of  Samaria.  Sichem  was  situated  between  IMounts 
Gerizim  and  Ebal,  nearly  in  the  middle  of  the  Land  of  Ca- 
naan. The  plain  of  Moreli  is  believed  to  be  the  valley  of 
Shechem,  part  of  which  Jacob  bought  from  the  children  of 
Hamor.  (Gen.  xxxiii.  19.)   The  place  is  now  called  Naplous 


SOJOURNING   OF   ABRAHAM.  81 

or  Napolose,  and  contains  about  100  Greek  Christians,  and  a 
few  Jews. 

4.  Bethel  and.  Hal. 

After  leaving  the  plain  of  Moreh,  Abraham  removed  to  a 
■^mountain  between  Bethel  and  Hai,  and  again  from  thence 
southward ;  but  a  famine  arising  in  the  land,  he  ^vent  do\vn 
into  Egypt,  and  afterwards  returned  again  to  Bethel. 

Beth-el  in  Hebrew  means  the  house  of  God,  and  was  ^o 
named  afterwards  by  Jacob,  Abraham's  grandson,  from  its  be- 
ing the  place  where  he  had  his  remarkable  vision  or  dream. 
The  name  was  afterwards  transferred  to  tlie  adjoining  city  of 
Luz,  vxiiich  was  thenceforth  the  real  place  named  Bethel.  It 
was  situated  eight  or  ten  miles  north  of  Jerusalem,  Here 
Abraham  and  Lot  separated ;  Lot,  choosing  the  plain  or  valley 
of  Jordan,  pitched  his  tent  near  Sodom,  and  Abraham  removed 
to  the  plain  of  Mamre  in  Hebron.  Hai  was  the  place  after- 
wards called  Ai,  wliich  vras  taken  by  stratagem  by  the  Isra 
elites.  (Josh.  vii.  and  viii.) 

5.  The  kings  of  Elam,  Shinar,  EUasar,  and  the  king  of 
Nations. 

The  kings  who  came  and  made  war  v^dth  the  five  kings  ot 
the  neighbouring  cities  in  the  vale  of  Siddim,  were  confederated 
together  on  account  of  the  five  kings  having  rebelled  against 
Chedorlaomer,  king  of  Elam,  to  whom  they  had  been  tj-ibu- 
tary  twelve  years.  Elam  was  Persia,  and  Shinar  was  Chal 
dea.  Ellasar  was  supposed  by  some  to  be  a  country  in  Arabia, 
by  others  Ellas  in  Syria,  or  Tiielassar  in  Mesopotamia.  The 
nations  of  which  Tidal  was  kmg,  v/ere  probably  the  petty 
nations  of  Gilgal  or  Galilee. 

6.  The  cities  Sodom,  Gomorrah,  Admah,  Zehoim,  and  Beta 
or  Zoar. 

These  were  the  five  cities  with  the  kings  of  which  Chedor- 
laomer and  his  allies  made  v/ar.  They  were  situated  in  the 
plam  or  valley  through  which  the  Jordan  flowed,  and  were 
probably  all  situated  within  that  part  of  it  called  the  vale  of 
Siddim,  before  the  destruction  of  this  region  by  fire  from 
heaven.  Four  of  these  cities  v/ere  destroyed  by  that  awful 
visitation  for  their  great  wickedness,  and  the  fifth  was  pre- 
served only  at  the  earnest  intercession  of  Lot,  as  a  place  of 
refuge  for  himself,  and  because  it  was  a  little  city :  hence  it 
was  called  Zoar,  i.  e.  the  little ;  its  name  before  was  Bela. 
(Gen.  xLx.  20.  22.) 

7.  The  vale  of  Siddim. 


32  &CRirTlJRE    GEOGRAPHY. 

This  was  a  rich  and  fertile  valley,  a  continuation  of  the 
vale  of  Jordan ;  occupying'  the  spot  which  is  now  the  Dead 
Sea.  This  was  anciently  called  the  Sea  of  the  Plain,  from  its 
situation  in  the  g:reat  plain  or  valley  of  the  Jordan  ;  and  some- 
times the  Salt  Sea,  from  the  extreme  saltness  of  its  waters. 
That  this  sea  was  once  the  vale  of  Siddim  is  evident  from  Gen. 
xiv.  3.  and  xix.  24,  25.  It  is  said  by  travellers  still  to  bear 
unequivocal  marks  of  the  great  catastrophe  of  which  it  has  been 
the  site ;  and  some  have  even  declared  that  when  the  waters 
were  low  they  discerned  the  ruins  and  fragments  of  walls  wliich 
had  once  belonged  to  the  guilty  cities  which  had  been  over- 
whelmed by  the  judgment  of  God.    (See  Dead  Sea,  Part  II.) 

8.  Kirjath-Arba,  or  Hebron. 

This  city  is  situated  in  the  hilly  country,  about  20  miles 
Bouth  of  Jerusalem.  It  is  one  of  tiie  most  ancient  cities  of 
the  east,  having  been  built  seven  years  before  Zoan,  in  Egypt, 
the  ancient  capital  of  the  Pharaohs.  It  w  as  first  called  Kir- 
jath-Arba,  i.  e.  the  city  of  Arba,  from  Arba  the  father  of 
Anak,  (Josh.  xiv.  15.)  from  whom  descended  the  gigantic  An- 
akim,  driven  thence  by  Caleb  when  he  conquered  the  place. 
Why  it  was  afterwards  called  Hebron  is  not  certain.  Some 
eay  from  Hebron,  a  son  of  Kohath  and  grandson  of  Levi ;  and 
others  from  Hebron,  a  son  of  Caleb.  It  is  remarkable  in  sacred 
history  as  the  place  where  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob  were 
buried,  and  also  Sarah,  Rebekah,  and  Leah.  A  cave,  supposed 
to  be  the  one  in  which  they  were  buried,  is  yet  shown  here, 
covered  by  a  building  which  was  formerly  a  Christian  church. 
It  is  also  supposed  that  Zacharias  and  Elizabeth,  the  parents 
of  John  the  Baptist,  dwelt  in  Hebron.  It  is  yet  a  place  of 
some  consequence,  and  is  now  called  Habroun,  and  Khalyl. 
Near  this  place  was  the  plain  of  Mamre,  where  Abraham 
dwelt,  being  about  two  miles  southward  from  Hebron :  it  was 
formerly  a  pleasant  and  fertile  valley,  and  probably  for  that 
reason  chosen  by  Abraham  as  his  residence. 

9.  The  river  of  Egypt. 

By  this  term  is  generally  understood  the  Nile,  as  it  is  the 
only  river  of  any  consequence  in  Egypt ;  but  it  is  evident 
that  the  river  of  Egypt  mentioned  in  Numb,  xxxiv.  5.  and 
Josh.  XV.  4.  could  not  be  the  Nile,  but  was  a  small  river  at  the 
Bouthern  boundary  of  the  land  of  Canaan.  This  is  confirmed 
in  Josh.  XV.  47.  where,  among  the  cities  beloriging  to  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  is  mentioned  "  Gaza  wuth  her  towns  and  iier  vil- 
lages, unto  t!ie  river  of  Egypt."   It  is  therefore  clearly  ascer- 


SOJOURNING   OF    ABRAHAM.  3d 

tamed  that  this  river  was  a  stream  to  the  south  of  Gaza,  falling 
into  the  Mediterranean,  forming  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
Land  of  Canaan;  and  being  the  border  towards  Egypt,  thence 
derived  its  name.  In  Amos  vi.  14,  it  is  called  the  River  of 
the  Wilderness,  from  its  situation  on  the  edge  of  the  desert 
between  Israel  and  Egypt.  It  also  appears  to  be  the  same 
which  in  some  other  places  is  called  Silior. 

10.  The  Kenites. 

The  origin  of  this  people  is  not  distinctly  kno\vn,  but  they 
are  supposed  to  have  been  a  tribe  of  Midianites  residing  near 
the  Amalekites,  south-west  of  Ca.naan. 

11.  The  Kenizites. 

These  are  mentioned  along  vvdth  the  Kenites,  Kadmonites, 
&c.  as  people  over  whom  the  seed  of  Abraham  should  have 
dominion.  They  are  supposed  to  have  descended  from  Kenaz, 
the  grandson  of  Esau,  and  to  have  had  their  dwelling  some- 
where in  Idumea,  south  of  Canaan. 

12.  The  Kadmonites. 

This  tribe  are  supposed  to  have  dwelt  in  the  north-east  part 
of  Canaan,  near  Mount  Hermon,  at  the  time  when  Abraham 
visited  the  country.  The  word  Kadmonites  is  supposed  to 
mean  an  eastern  people ;  and  hence  some  have  conjectured 
that  they  were  placed  east  of  the  Jordan^  or  that  the  word 
implied  collectively  all  the  people  living  east  of  that  river. 
The  learned  Mr.  Brj^ant  supposes  them  to  have  been  Cad- 
mians,  a  Cathite  or  shepherd  colony  from  Egypt,  who  had 
settled  in  Canaan,  and  afterwards  spread  themselves  west- 
ward into  Phenicia.  Hence  tliey  emigrated  by  colonies  into 
Greece  and  Africa,  carrying  v/ith  them  their  language  and 
letters,  as  Vv^ell  as  their  name  of  Cadmians.  Cadmus  was  one 
of  the  names  of  Osiris,  the  chief  deity  of  Egypt;  and  from 
this  deity  the  Greeks,  in  process  of  time,  framed  an  ideal 
personage  \yhom  they  made  to  be  the  person  who  brought 
the  Greek  letters  from  Phenicia  into  Greece. 

13.  The  Perizzit.es. 

The  origin  and  situation  of  the  Perizzites  are  not  well  as- 
certained. They  are  supposed  to  have  been  some  of  the  de- 
scendants of  Canaan,  or  a  people  mingled  with  them.  Dr. 
Wells  supposes  them  to  have  derived  their  name  from  the 
Hebrew"  word  Perazoth,  denoting  villages,  and  that  they 
were  rustics,  not  living  in  cities,  nor  consisting  of  any  par- 
ticular family,  but  made  up  of  stragglers  from  all.  Faber 
thinks  they  were  not  Canaanites,  but  supposes  their  name  to 


■y 


34  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

have  been  a  general  term,  comprehending  the  Anakim, 
Rephahn,  Zuzim,  Horim,  &c.  who  were  Phenician  or  Cuthic 
emigrants. 

14.  The  Rephaim. 

Tins  name  is  agreed,  by  those  learned  in  Hebrew,  to  mean 
men  of  extraordinary  stature  or  strength.  They  were  situa- 
ted oast  of  the  Jordan,  adjoining  the  Emim  and  Zuzim.  The 
valley  rf  Rephaim,  or  valley  of  giants,  lay  near  Jerusalem, 
and  was  probably  once  inhabited  by  some  of  these  people  de- 
tached from  their  chief  settlement  on  the  east  side  of  Jordan. 

15.  The  well  Laha.i-roi,  Bercd  and  Gerar. 

After  Hagar  had  fled  into  tlie  wilderness,  she  was  found  by 
the  angel  of  the  Lord  at  a  fountain  in  the  way  to  Shur.  Tliis 
fountain  was  between  Kadesh  and  Bered,  and  was  called 
hahai-roi,  i.  e.  the  fountain  of  him  that  lives  and  sees  me. 
Shur  was  tlie  name  of  that  part  of  Arabia  which  adjoins 
Egypt  and  the  Red  Sea.  Kadesh  was  a  city  near  the  south- 
ern boundary  of  Canaan :  Bered  is  nowhere  else  mentioned 
in  Scripture,  but  was  probably  not  far  from  Gerar,  the  place 
where  Abraham  sojourned  after  his  removal  southward  from 
the  neighbourliood  of  Hebron.  Gerar  was  probably  not  far 
from  Gaza,  being  in  the  land  of  the  Philistines.  Gen.  xxi. 
32.  31 

IG.  Becrsheha,  and  the  Land  of  Moriah. 

Beersheba,  in  Hebrew,  means  the  ivell  of  the  oath,  and  was 
so  named  from  the  covenant  made  concerning  it  between 
Abraham  and  Abimelech,  king  of  Gerar.  This  place,  in 
which  a  city  was  afterwards  built  called  by  heathen  writers 
Bersabe,  or  Berzimma,  was  situated  at  tlie  southern  extrem- 
ity of  the  land  of  Israel.  Hence  the  expression  so  often  used 
"from  Dan  even  unto  Beersheba,"  to  express  the  greatest 
length  of  the  Holy  Land ;  Dan  being  at  the  extreme  northern 
border,  and  Beersheba  at  the  southern. 

While  Abraham  sojourned  at  Beersheba,  he  was  required  of 
God,  as  a  trial  of  his  obedience,  to  go  into  the  Land  of  MoriaR, 
and  there  to  ofl'er  his  only  son,  Isaac,  as  a  burnt  offering. 
(Gen.  xxii.  2.)  It  is  generally  thought  that  this  land  of  Moriah 
was  the  mount  so  called,  upon  which  Solomon  afterwards  built 
the  temple,  and  on  part  of  which,  namely,  IMount  Calvary, 
our  Saviour  afterwards  offered  himself  for  the  redemption  of 
mankind.  Instead,  however,  of  Moriah,  the  Samaritans  in 
this  passage  read  Moreh,  and  say  that  it  was  to  Mount  Geri- 
zim,  near  the  plain  of  Moreh  and  Sichem,  where  Isaac  was 


SOJOURNING    OF   ABRAHAM.  35 

brought  to  be  sacrificed.    x'\ccording  to  Maimonides,  the  place 
where  Abraham  built  the  altar  for  this  purpose  was  the  same 
where  David  afterwards  built  his,  m  the  threshing-floor  of 
Araunah  the  Jebusite,  near  Jerusalem. 
17.  Abraham\s  sons  by  Keturah. 

After  the  death  of  Sarah,  Abraham  took  to  wife  Keturah, 
whose  children  are  named,  Gen.  xxv.  1-4.  To  these  children 
Abraham  gave  gifts  and  sent  them  away  from  his  son  Isaac, 
into  the  east  country,  i.  e.  into  the  eastern  part  of  Arabia, 
where  we  find  some  of  their  descendants  afterwards  mention- 
ed in  the  sacred  liistory. 

Midian,  one  of  these,  was  the  progenitor  of  the  Midianites, 
who  were  settled  chiefly  south-east  of  the  Dead  Sea,  adjoining 
the  Moabites,  with  whom  we  afterwards  find  them  sometimes 
mentioned  in  conjunction  as  neighbours.  Numb.  xxii.  4.  From 
this  place  it  is  probable  that  tlie  Midianites  spread  abroad  into 
the  adjacent  countries,  as  we  read  of  them  afterwards  as  be- 
ing in  the  vicinity  of  Mount  Sinai,  near  the  Red  Sea,  where 
Jethro,  the  father-in-lav/  of  Moses,  and  priest  of  Midiai?,  had 
his  residence. 

Jokshrm,  another  son  of  Abraliam  by  Keturah,  had  two  sons 
named  Sheba  and  Dedan,  who  must  be  distinguished  from  the 
two  descendants  of  Cush,  of  the  same  name,  settled  in  Arabia 
Felix ;  while  the  sons  of  Jokshan  were  settled  to  the  north- 
ward of  them  in  Arabia  Deserta. 

18.  Ish7nael,  son  of  Abraham  and  Hagar. 

Ishmael  dw^elt  in  the  wilderness  of  Paran,  (Gen.  xxi.  21.) 
which  was  the  desert  and  mountainous  tract  between  the  wil- 
derness of  Shur  on  the  west,  and  Mount  Seir  or  the  land  of 
Edom,  on  the  east ;  having  the  land  of  Canaan  on  the  north, 
and  the  Red  Sea  on  the  south.  He  became  the  father  of  twelve 
sons,  (Gen.  xxv.  13.)  whose  posterity  "  dwelt  from  Havilah 
unto  Shur,"  that  is,  in  Arabia  Petrsea,  of  which  the  w^estern 
part,  towards  Egypt,  is  called  Shur,  and  the  eastern  part, 
towards  the  Persian  Gulf,  Havilah.  The  modern  Arabians 
value  themselves  on  being  descended  from  Ishmael,  of  whom 
it  was  foretold  that  he  should  be  a  wild  man,  the  father  of 
a  great  nation ;  and  that  his  hand  sliould  be  against  every 
man,  and  every  man's  hand  against  him.  Gen.  xvi.  12.  xxi.  18. 

18.  Descendants  of  Lot,  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites. 

The  posterity  of  Moab,  the  elder  son  of  Lot,  settled  east  of 
tlie  Lake  Asphaltites  or  Dead  Sea,  and  in  the  adjacent  coun- 
try,  east  of  the  Jordan ;  for  we  learn  by  IN  umb.  xxi.  26.  th3.v 


do  SCRIPTl'KE    GEOGRAPHY. 

the  Amorites  had  conquered  that  country  fi-om  the  Moahites, 
as  far  as  the  river  Arnon. 

Tlie  descendants  of  Ammon,  the  younger  son  of  Lot,  pos- 
sessed the  country  adjoining  the  Moabites,  on  the  northward 
and  eastward ;  from  the  Arnoa  to  the  river  Jabbok,  being  the 
northern  part  of  what  was  afterwards  the  kingdom  of  8ihon. 
Numb.  xxi.  13.  Josh.  xiii.  25.  and  Judges  xi.  13-23. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  ESAU,  AND  THE  SOJOURNING  OF  JACOU 

I.  Mount  Seir  or  Edam,  the  dwelling  of  Esau. 

Esau  and  Jacob  having  separated  on  account  of  their  riches, 
and  the  number  of  their  cattle,  which  were  more  tlian  the 
country  could  bear ;  Esau  w^ent  from  the  face  of  his  brother 
Jacob,  and  dwelt  in  ISIount  Seir.  Gen.  xxxvi.  6-9. 

Edom,  afterwards  called  Idumea,  was  situated  south  of  the 
Land  of  Canaan,  and  the  Dead  Sea,  and  extended  as  far  as 
some  branches  of  the  Red  Sea ;  having  the  land  of  Midian  on 
the  east,  and  the  Amalekites  on  the  west. 

The  settlement  of  Esau  w^as  in  the  mountains  of  Seir,  to 
tlie  south-east  of  the  Dead  Sea,  This  mountainous  tract  was 
possessed  by  tlie  Horites,  probably  tlie  family  of  Hor,  after 
whom  Mount  Hor  may  have  been  named ;  as  this  mountain, 
on  which  Aaron  died,  was  on  the  borders  of  Edom.  This  re- 
gion appears  to  have  received  the  name  of  Mount  Seir  after- 
wards, from  the  family  of  Seir,  the  Horite,  (Gen.  xxxvi.  20.) 
who  seems  to  have  been  a  person  of  consequence  in  that  land. 
After  the  children  of  Esau  had  succeeded  the  Horites,  the 
country  was  called  Edom,  a  name  by  which  Esau  was  distin- 
guished, after  he  had  sold  his  birth-right  to  Jacob.  The  Ed-om- 
ites  w^ere  first  governed  by  dukes  or  princes,  and  afterwards 
by  kings.  They  were  conquered  by  David,  (2  Sam.  viii.  14.) 
and  the  prophecy  that  Jacob  should  rule  Esau  completely  ful- 
filled. 

II.   The  .Sojourning  of  Jacob. 

After  Jacob,  the  younger  son  of  Isaac,  Imd  received  the 
blessing  from  his  father,  instead  of  Esau,  he  was  hated  by  his 
elder  brother,  who  even  sought  his  life.     He  was  therefore 


SOJOURNING    OF   JACOB.  87 

sent  by  his  mother  to  her  brother  Laban,  who  dwelt  at  Haran 
m  Padan  Arara  or  Mesopotamia.  On  liis  way  thither  from 
Beersheba,  he  came  to  a  certain  place,  and  lay  down  to  sleep. 
It  was  here  that  he  had  the  vision  in  which  God  renewed  to 
him  the  promise  already  made  to  Abraham  and  Isaac :  hence 
this  place  was  named  by  Jacob  Bethel,  the  house  of  God.  Of 
its  situation  we  have  already  spoken  in  our  account  of  the  so- 
journing of  Abraham. 

1.  Gilead  and  MizpaJi. 

Afler  remaining  several  years  at  Haran,  during  which  time 
he  married  the  tvvo  daughters  of  Laban,  Jacob  desiring  to  re- 
turn to  Canaan,  stole  away  from  Laban,  and,  with  his  family 
and  his  flocks,  set  out  on  his  journey  homewards.  He  crossed 
the  river  (probably  the  Euphrates)  and  came  to  Mount  Gilead, 
where  Laban,  having  pursued,  overtook  him.  Here  they  made 
a  covenant,  raising  a  heap  of  stones,  from  which  the  place  was 
called  Galeed,  i.  e.  the  heap  nfioitness.  The  mountain  where 
this  was  done  was  afterwards  called  Galeed  or  Gilead  by  the 
Israelites.  It  was  situated  east  of  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  being 
part  of  that  ridge  of  mountains  which  runs  from  Lebanon  south- 
ward, on  the  east  of  the  Holy  Land,  and  included  in  the  moun- 
tainous region  called  Tra,chonitis  in  the  New  Testament. 
Mizpah  was  another  nam_e  given  this  heap  of  stones,  from 
which  the  town  of  Mizpah,  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Gad,  and 
lying  near  this  famous  place  of  the  covenant,  took  its  name. 

2.  Mahanaim,  the  Brook  Jahbok,  and  Pemiel. 

Having  gone  on  his  way  some  distance  into  Canaan,  Jacob 
was  met  by  the  angels  of  God.  And  when  he  saw  them  he 
said.  This  is  God's  host;  and  hence  he  called  the  place  Maha- 
naim, i.  e.  the  hosts.  From  this  the  city  near  this  place  was 
afterwards  called  Mahanaim.  It  was  situated  near  the  river 
Jabbok,  on  the  way  from  JMount  Gilead. 

This  brook  or  river  Jabbok  ran  from  the  Mountains  of  Gi- 
lead, and  probably  emptied  into  the  Jordan,  south  of  the  Sea 
of  Galilee ;  some,  however,  think  that  it  emptied  mto  that 
sea. 

Near  this  brook  was  also  the  place  named  Peniel,  i.  e.  the 
face  of  God :  so  called  from  Jacob's  wrestling  there  with  an 
angel;  at  which  time  he  received  the  name  of  Israel.  Hence, 
the  adjoining  city  was  called  Penuel. 

Not  far  from  this  last  place,  and  near  the  river  Jordan,  was 
Succoth,  where  Jacob  "  built  him  an  house,  and  made  bootlis 
^r  his  cattle."  Gen.  xxxiii.  17. 
D 


3d  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 

8.  Ephrath,  or  Ephratah,  afterwards  called  Bethlehem. 

After  leaving  Succoth,  Jacob  crossed  the  Jordan  and  came 
to  UShalcm,  a  city  of  Shcchem,  where  he  bought  a  parcel  of 
ground.  He  next  passed  on  to  Bethel,  where  he  built  an  altar, 
and  held  communion  with  God. 

After  this,  when  they  had  come  near  to  Ephrath,  Benjamin 
was  born,  and  Rachel  died.  She  was  buried  here,  and  Jacob 
set  a  pillar  upon  her  grav'e,  which  probably  stood  a  long  time, 
as  it  is  mentioned  in  1  Sam.  x.  2.  That  Ephrath  was  the 
same  as  Bethlehem,  we  learn  from  Gen.  xxxv.  19.  So  that 
the  same  place,  remarkable  for  the  birth  of  Benjamin,  was  no 
less  so  for  that  of  king  David,  and  more  famous  still  as  the 
birth-place  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ. 

4.  The  Tower  of  Edar. 

From  the  last  mentioned  place  Israel  journeyed  again,  and 
spread  his  tent  beyond  the  Tower  of  Eda-r.  11ie  word  Eder 
or  Edar,  in  Hebrew,  signifies  a  flock ;  and  in  Micah  iv.  8.  the 
Tower  of  Edar  is  translated  the  Tower  of  the  Flock ;  whence, 
as  it  is  termed  "the  strong  hold  of  the  daughter  of  Sion," 
some  have  supposed  that  it  denotes  a  place  near  Jerusalem. 
Others  think  it  means  t'le  field  near  Bethleliem,  where  the 
shepherds  were  keeping  their  flocks  when  the  angel  appeared, 
and  announced  to  them  the  birth  of  Christ. 

From  this  place  Jacob  went  to  Isaac,  his  father,  in  JMamre 
or  Hebron,  where  Isaac  died  and  was  buried.  Jacob  remained 
there,  and  from  this  place  he  sent  Joseph  to  see  his  brethren 
who  had  gone  to  feed  their  father's  flocks  in  Shechem,  where 
he  had  before  bought  a  piece  of  ground. 

5.  Dothan. 

Joseph,  having  come  to  Shechem,  was  not  able  to  find  his 
brethren,  who  had  gone  to  Dothan ;  but  being  at  length  in- 
formed of  it,  he  went  thither.  When  his  brethren  at  Dothan 
saw  him  coming,  they  conspired  against  him,  because  of  his 
dreams;  and  sold  him  to  some  Ishmaelites  and  Midianites, 
who  w^ere  going  down  from  Gilead  to  Egypt  with  merchan- 
dise. These  took  Josepli  with  them  to  Egypt,  where  they 
sold  him  to  Potiphar,  the  captain  of  Pharaoh's  guard.  Accord- 
ing lo  Eusebius,  Dothan  was  situated  about  twelve  miles 
north  of  the  city  of  Samaria. 

6.  Adullam,  Chezib,  and  Timnath. 

Tiiese  places  are  mentioned  (Gen.  xxxviii.)  in  relating  cer- 
tain transactions  of  Judah,  the  son  of  Jacob.  Adullam  was  a 
city  in  the  northern  part  of  the  tract  atierwards  allotted  to 


ISRAELITES    IN   EG\PT.  39 

the  tribe  of  Judah,  south-west  from  Jerusalem ;  and  was  re- 

markable  for  a  cave  in  its  neighbourhood,  in  which  David  hid 
himself  from  the  pursuit  of  JSaul.  Chezih  was  not  far  from 
AduUam ;  and  is  thought  by  some  to  have  been  the  place 
called  Achzib  in  Josh.  xv.  44.  Timnath  was  probably  the 
same  place  as  that  mentioned  afterwards  in  the  story  of  Sam- 
son :  it  was  situated  westward  from  Jerusalem,  on  the  boi-der 
of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  but  belono-ed  to  the  tribe  of  Dan. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

RESIDENCE  OF  THE  ISRAELITES  IN  THE  LAND  OF  EGYPT. 

Joseph,' having  through  Divine  favour  attained  the  highest 
degree  of  honour  and  power  in  Egypt,  next  to  the  king,  sent 
for  his  father,  his  brethren,  and  their  families,  to  bring  them 
from  the  Land  of  Canaan  into  Egypt.  Accordino'ly,  Jacob, 
with  all  his  family,  amounting  to  three-score  and  six  persons, 
together  with  their  flocks  and  all  that  they  had,  went  down 
from  the  Land  of  Canaan,  then  the  seat  of  famine,  and  were 
placed  by  Joseph  in  the  Land  of  Goshen,  a  fertile  part  of 
Egypt. 

1.  The  Land  of  Goshen,  or  Rameses. 

The  district  of  Egypt  called  Goshen  was  situated  in  the 
easterly  part  of  Egypt,  between  the  river  Nile  and  the  north- 
ern extremity  of  the  E,ed  Sea.  Some  authors  suppose  it  was 
-Called  the  Land  of  Rameses,  from  a  king  of  Egypt  of  that 
name,  after  whom  the  city  of  Rameses,  which  stood  therem, 
was  also  named.  They  conjecture  that  this  district  was  the 
property  of  the  sovereign,  in  which  his  own  cattle  pastured, 
as  he  tells  Joseph,  (Gen.  xlvii.  6.)  "make  thy  brethren  rulers 
over  niT/  cattle,"  which  probably  were  kept  in  the  best  of  the 
land,  and  to  tend  which,  at  any  great  distance,  it  does  not 
seem  consistent  that  Joseph's  brethren  should  do.  Being  Pha- 
raoh's own  property,  too,  it  might  be  given  to  the  children  of 
Israel,  with  more  propriety,  as  the  possessions  of  his  subjects 
would  not  in  that  case  be  encroached  upon. 

2.  The  City  of  On. 

This  city,  otherwise  called  in  Hebrew  Bethshemesh,  the 
House  of  the  Sim,  was  the  same  called  in  Greek  Heliopolis, 
the  City  of  the  Sun.  It  was  the  priest  of  this  On,  whose 
daughter  was  given  in  marriage  by  Pharaoh  to  Joseph ;  and 


40  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

the  LXX.  say  that  this  was  the  place  where  Jacob  and  Joseph 
met.  According  to  Joseplius,  this  city  was  given  to  the  Isra- 
elites on  their  coming  into  Egypt,  probably  because  it  lay  in 
or  very  near  to  the  Land  of  Goshen,  on  the  eastern  branch  of 
the  Nile. 

Near  this  city,  in  after  ages,  a  temple  was  built  for  the 
Jews  by  Onias,  the  high  priest,  who  had  been  dispossessed  of 
his  authority  and  office  by  Antiochus ;  Ptolemy  Philadelphus, 
then  kmg  of  Egypt,  consenting  to  its  erection. 

o.  Racnnses  and  Pilkom. 

These  were  "treasure  cities,"  built  for  Pharaoh  by  the 
Israelites,  while  in  a  state  of  bondage.  By  the  term  treasure 
cities,  it  is  probably  to  be  miderstood  that  they  were  granaries 
or  repositories  for  corn ;  as  such  places  seem  to  have  been 
mucli  in  use  by  the  Egyptians,  after  the  good  effects  attend- 
ing the  first  introduction  of  them  by  Joseph  were  felt  and  un- 
derstood. Som.e  commentators,  however,  consider  them  to 
have  been  cities  of  defence,  or  military  depots.  It  is  not  cer- 
tain whether  Raamses  and  Rameses  were  the  same  city :  if 
not,  they  were  not  very  far  distant,  both  being  near  the  east- 
ern branch  of  the  Nile.  Pithom  is  thought  by  some  writers 
to  be  the  same  as  Pathumos,  mentioned  by  Herodotus  as  be- 
ing situated  near  the  canal  wliich  was  made  by  the  kings 
Necho  and  Darius  to  join  the  Red  Sea  with  the  Nile.  Others 
incline  to  the  opinion  that  it  was  situated  where  Pelusium, 
the  modern  Damietta,  was  aflerv/ards  built,  i.  e.  near  the 
eastern  mouth  of  the  Nile. 

4.  Of  the  Employment  of  the  Israelites  while  in  Bondage. 

The  space  of  time  which  the  children  of  Israel  remained 
in  Egypt,  is  understood  to  have  been  about  215  years.*  Joseph 
ruled  seventy  years ;  and  it  was  about  58  years  after  his  death 
that  the  "  new  king  arose  up  who  knew  not  Joseph,"  (Exod.  i. 
8.);  consequently  the  term  of  bondage  lasted  87  years.  There 
is  no  reason  for  supposing  tliat  they  were  occupied  all  this 
time  in  building  the  two  cities  already  mentioned ;  for  their 
number,  v/hen  they  went  up  out  of  the  Land  of  Egypt, 
amounted  to  six  hundred  thousand  men,  besides  children. 
(Exod.  xii.  37.)  At  what,  then,  was  this  immense  multitude 
of  people  employed  during  nearly  a  liundred  years  ? 

May  we  not  look  to  the  Pyramids  of  Egypt  as  having  been 

*Tlie  430  years'  pojniiriiinEr,  incntioiifd  in  Exod.  xii.  40,  is  to  be  computed 
from  the  tiniu  of  Abraham's  departure  out  of  llaran. 


JOURNEYINGS   OF   THE   ISRAELITES.  41 

built  by  the  children  of  Israel ;  and  yet  standing  as  everlast- 
ing monuments  of  the  truth  of  sacred  history  1  We  find  that 
the  labours  of  the  Israelites  consisted  in  maldng  bricks,  with 
which  they  mixed  straw ;  and  it  appears  from  the  inspection 
of  various  travellers  who  have  examined  these  stupendous 
edifices,  that  their  interior  parts  contain,  among  other  mate- 
rials, bricks  of  this  kmd.  This  is  true  of  the  great  pyramid 
which  has  been  opened ;  but  the  pyramids  of  Sakkara,  at  some 
distance  from  this,  are  composed  wholly  of  sun-burnt  bricks, 
mixed  w^ith  chopped  straw. 

It  is  not  likely  that  the  native  Egyptians  laboured  on  these 
structures ;  for  it  was  anciently,  as  ]t  is  yet  in  eastern  coun- 
tries, the  custom  to  employ  slaves  or  bondmen  in  building. 
Diodorus  Siculus,  the  historian,  informs  us  that  Sesostris,  the 
king  of  Egypt,  in  building  his  public  edifices,  employed  none 
of  Jiis  o^vn  subjects,  but  only  captives  ;  and  that  he  even  had 
it  engraved  on  the  temples  that  no  Egyptian  had  a  hand  in 
the  building.  It  is  therefore  very  probable  that  the  "  king 
who  knew  not  Joseph,"  dreading  the  increasing  numbers  and 
strength  of  the  Israelites,  would  set  them  to  labour  on  such 
buildings,  and  would  afflict  them  with  grievous  tasks  for  the 
mere  purpose  of  wasting  their  strength  and  preventing  their 
increase.  And  as  the  last  pyramid  was  never  completely 
finished,  we  may  attribute  its  unfinished  state  to  the  Israelites 
havmg  left  Egypt  before  its  completion,  and  to  the  confusion 
in  the  country  consequent  upon  the  destruction  of  Pharaoh 
and  his  army  in  the  Red  Sea. 

(For  a  further  account  of  the  Pyramids,  and  the  Land  of 
Egypt  in  general,  see  Egypt,  Part  II.) 


CHAPTER  Vn. 

JOURNEYINGS  OF  THE  ISRAELITES  FROM  EGYPT  TO  CANAAN, 

That  part  of  the  sacred  history  relating  to  the  wanderings 
of  the  children  of  Israel  in  the  desert,  and  their  progress  to- 
wards Canaan,  is  in  many  places  very  perplexing  and  obscure 
in  its  geography ;  but  we  shall  endeavour  to  trace  their  route 
as  accurately  as  the  existing  sources  of  information,  which  we 
have  diligently  examined,  will  allow.  The  sands  of  the  desert, 
driven  by  easterly  winds,  are  constantly  advancuig  farther 
westward  ;  and  this  will  he  found  to  have  considerable  influ- 
D2 


42  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

ence  on  the  character  of  the  wilderness  into  which  the  Isra- 
elites entered,  as  well  as  its  extent.  In  the  days  of  Moses  it 
probably  did  not  begin  so  near  to  Egypt  as  it  now  does,  nor 
was  it  so  totally  barren  and  sandy  as  it  now  is.  That  it  then 
contained  many  fertile  spots,  is  evident  from  the  numerous 
flocks  and  herds  of  cattle  taken  with  them  by  the  Israelites 
from  Egypt,  having  been  able  to  find  subsistence.  Exod,  xii. 
38.  The  northern  extremity  of  the  Red  Sea,  too,  advanced 
much  farther  to  the  north  formerly  than  it  does  now,  owing 
to  the  constant  driving  of  sand  from  the  desert.  Q^lie  depth 
of  water  at  Suez  is  gradually  diminishing,  and  before  long 
that  part  of  the  gulf  will  probably  become  dryland.  Kolsoum, 
which  was  a  sea-port  in  the  time  of  the  Caliphs,  is  now  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  inland.  It  is  probable  therefore  that  Baal- 
zephon,  which  in  the  time  of  Moses  was  upon  tJie  Hed  Sea, 
was  some  miles  further  north,  than  the  present  Suez,  which 
is  supposed  by  some  to  stand  in  the  same  place.  Other  con- 
siderable changes  in  the  face  of  the  desert  may  have  been 
produced  by  the  same  cause,  whence  probably  arises  mucli 
of  the  difficulty  attending  the  geographical  account  of  the 
stations  or  encampments  of  tlie  Israelites  in  the  wilderness. 

1.  Rameses. — This  was  the  Rameses  in  tlie  Land  of  Go- 
shen, where  the  Israelites  dwelt,  of  which  we  have  already 
spoken.  From  this  place  they  set  out,  in  number  "  about  six 
hundred  thousand  on  foot  tliat  were  men,  besides  children." 
Exod.  xii.  37. 

2.  Succoth. — The  first  advance  on  their  journey  was  to 
Succoth,  which  word  in  Hebrew  means  booths,  and  the  place 
was  so  named  because  there  the  Israelites  erected  booths  or 
shelters.  This  place  was  not  far  on  the  way  to  the  wilder- 
ness of  the  Red  Sea,  and  is  supposed  to  be  the  place  now 
called  Birket  el  IIad<ri  or  Pilgrim's  Pool,  a  few  miles  east  of 
Cairo,  where  tlie  caravan  for  Mecca  now  assembles. 

3.  Eiham.  They  next  "  took  their  journey  from  Succoth, 
and  encamped  in  Etham,  in  the  edge  of  the  wilderness." 
Exod.  xiii.  20.  Etham  was  probably  near  tlie  present  pilgrim 
station  called  Adjcrorid ;  and  that  part  of  the  wilderness  next 
to  Egypt,  was  called  the  wilderness  of  Etham.  Numb,  xxxiii. 
8.  Tiius  far  INIoscs  pursued  the  direct  road  to  Canaan,  yet  the 
regular  and  customary  track;  but  being  come  to  Etham,  lie  was 
commanded  by  the  Lord  to  turn  again  to  the  south  and  en- 
camp before  Pi-haliiroth,  between  Migdol  and  the  sea,  over 
against  Baal-Zeplion. 


JOURNEYINGS   OF   THE  ISRAELITES.  43 

4.  Pi-hahiroth. — This  Plebrew  word  means,  tJie  mouth  of 
the  gulf,  and  was  probably  so  named  from  being  near  the 
mouth  of  the  present  gulf  of  Suez.  It  is  thought  to  be  the 
place  more  recently  called  Heromi  or  Heroopolis,  which  stood 
near  the  extremity  of  the  Red  Sea. 

5.  Migdol. — It  is  not  certain  whether  this  was  a  city  or  a 
tower.  Some  think  it  was  a  city,  as  the  LXX.  translators 
render  the  name  Magdolus,  and  Herodotus  mentions  a  city 
of  tho-'t  name  situated  hereabouts ;  but  as  Migdol  in  Hebrew 
signifies  a  tower,  some  thmk  it  was  merely  a  bidlding  at  a 
well  or  station  in  the  way;  Magdolus  or  Magdolo  being  fur- 
ther north. 

6.  Baal-Zephon. — This  name  is  thought  by  learned  men 
to  have  been  the  name  of  an  idol  placed  here  to  keep  the  bor- 
ders of  the  country,  and  prevent  the  escape  of  the  slaves  ; 
Zephon  bemg  thought  to  come  from  the  Hebrew  Zephak,  to 
ivatch  or  spij :  but  it  is  also  said  to  signify  north,  so  that  it  may 
have  been  a  temple  standing  at  the  north  point  of  the  Red 
Sea,  near  the  present  Suez. 

7.  Passage  through  the  Red  Sea. — Pharaoh,  having  been 
told  of  the  flight  of  the  Israelites,  pursued  with  a  great  force, 
and  overtook  them  at  their  encampment  near  Baal-Zephon. 
The  Israelites,  alarmed  at  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  Egypt- 
ians, began  to  mistrust  the  providence  of  God,  as  no  way  of 
escape  appeared  to  them ;  being  shut  in  on  all  sides  by  the  wil- 
derness, by  the  mountains,  and  by  the  sea,  and  having  the  army 
of  the  Egyptians  behind  them.  Bat  they  escaped  by  tlie  way 
which  probably  they  least  thought  of;  for  Moses,  stretching 
out  his  hand  over  the  sea,  it  v/as  divided,  and  the  Israelites 
passed  over  on  dry  ground.  The  Egyptians  following,  the 
sea  returned  to  its  place  and  they  were  all  overwhelmed  in 
the  waters,  not  one  escaping.  Exod.  xiv.  15-30.  This  miracu- 
lous event  seems  to  have  been  preserved  in  tradition  among 
the  neighbouring  people ;  as  Diodorus,  a  heathen  historian, 
relates  that  among  the  Ichthyophagi,  a  people  of  this  region, 
an  old  tradition,  delivered  down  from  their  ancestors,  states 
that  the  waters  of  the  sea  formerly  parted,  the  waters  falling 
back  on  each  side,  so  that  the  bottom  was  dry  the  whole 
breadth  across,  appearing  of  a  green  colour ;  but  that  some 
time  after  the  sea  returned  to  its  usual  place.  This  tradition 
doubtless  refers  to  the  miraculous  passage  of  the  Israelites. — 
(See  Red  Sea,  Part  11.) 

8.  The  wilderness  of  Shur.— -After  passing  the  Red  Sea, 


44  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

Moses  led  the  Israelites  out  into  the  wilderness  of  Shur,  a 
distance  of  three  days'  journey.  Exod.  xv.  22.  Numb,  xxxiii. 
8.  This  wilderness  is  probably  the  same  as  that  of  Etham, 
mentioned  before ;  at  all  events,  it  was  the  desert  tract  of  Ara- 
bia Petra^a  next  to  Egypt.  The  wilderness  of  Etham  was 
probably  that  part  of  it  which  lay  nearest  to  Etham,  and  as 
the  Israelites  went  out  of  the  Red  Sea  into  the  wilderness  of 
Shur,  it  is  evident  that  they  must  have  crossed  this  .sea  near 
the  north  end  of  it,  as  both  Shur  and  Etham  were  there  situ- 
ated. 

9.  Marah. — This  word  in  Hebrew  signifies  bitterness,  and 
the  place  was  so  named  from  the  water  which  they  found 
there  being  so  bitter  that  they  could  not  drink  it.  Moses, 
however,  praying  to  tbe  Lord,  was  shown  a  tree,  the  wood  of 
which  being  cast  into  the  water,  it  was  made  sweet.  Exod. 
XV.  23.  Marah  was  on  the  east  of  the  Red  Sea,  where  Nie- 
buhr  says  there  are  yet  four  pits  of  water  which  are  bitter. 
He  describes  the  place  as  being  eight  (German)  miles  south- 
eastward from  Suez. 

10.  Eihn. — From  Marah  they  came  to  Elim,  where  they 
found  twelve  wells  of  water  and  seventy  palm-trees.  Exod. 
XV.  27.  Elim  lies  in  the  north  skirt  of  the  desert,  two  leagues 
from  Tor,  where  there  are  now  nine  wells  and  two  thousand 
palm-trees.  Dr.  Shaw  says  there  is  a  distinct  view  of  Mount 
Sinai  from  Elim,  the  wilderness  of  Sin  lying  between  them, 
about  a  day's  journey  across. 

11.  The  wilderness  of  ^in. — This  was  the  desert  between 
Elim  and  Sinai,  But  the  Israelites,  in  going  from  Elim  to  this 
wilderness,  made  an  encampment  by  the  Red  Sea  (Numb, 
xxxiii,  10,  11.)  probably  because  they  were  obliged  to  turn 
from  the  direct  course  by  some  obstacle  which  hindered  them 
from  going  directly  forward.  During  their  stay  in  the  wilder- 
ness of  Sin,  they  were  first  provided  with  manna,  which  sup- 
ply continued  to  be  regularly  given  them  during  forty  years 
till  they  came  to  the  land  of  Canaan,  Exod.  xvi,  35. 

12.  Dnphka  and  Alush. — Nothing  important  seems  to  have 
occurred  at  these  encampments,  as  they  are  not  mentioned  in 
Exodus.  They  are  noticed  Numb,  xxxiii.  12.  14.  Alush  was 
in  the  country  of  the  Edomitcs,  near  the  city  of  Petra, 

13.  Rephidim. — This  station  of  the  Israelites  is  remarkable 
as  being  the  place  where  Moses  was  ordered  to  go  and  smite 
the  rock  of  Horeb  with  his  rod,  in  order  to  obtain  water  for 
the  people  who,  according  to  their  usual  custom,  murmured 


JOURNEYINGS    OF   THE   ISRAELITES.  45 

against  him.  It  seems  by  this  that  Rephidim  could  not  have 
been  far  from  Horeb.  This  place  is  also  remo.rkable  for  an 
attack  upon  Israel  by  the  x'^malekites,  who  were  discomfited 
by  Joshua, 

14.  The  wilaerness  of  Sinai — After  leaving  Rephidim,  the 
Israelites  encamped  in  the  wilderness  of  Sinai,  whicli  means 
the  desert  lying  about  the  foot  of  Ivlount  Sinai,  In  this  en- 
campment they  remained  a  lono-  time  :  here  they  received  the 
law ;  here  Jethro,  the  father-in-law  of  Moses,  came  to  the 
camp,  and  brought  him  his  wife  and  children ;  and  here  he 
advised  Moses  to  appoint  judges  to  decide  small  matters  of 
controversy  among  the  people,  as  the  labour  of  hearing  and 
deciding  all  these  matters  was  too  great  a  burden  for  Moses 
to  bear.  It  is  thought  that  the  appointment  of  these  judges 
was  the  foundation  of  the  celebrated  Sanhedrim,  or  general 
council  of  the  Jewish  nation,  consisting  of  seventy  senators, 
who  assembled  at  fixed  times  to  determine  the  most  important 
affairs  of  church  and  state. 

15.  The  Mountains  Horeh  and  Sinai. — It  is  evident  from 
several  passages  of  Scripture,  that  Horeb  and  Sinai  are  either 
adjoining  mountains,  or  that  they  are  only  tw^o  different  heads 
or  summits  of  the  same  mountain.  For  what  is  in  one  place 
related  as  having  been  done  at  Horeb,  is  in  another  related  as 
having  been  done  at  Sinai.  For  instance,  we  read  (Exod.  xx.) 
that  the  commandments  were  delivered  from  Sinai ;  and  it  is 
repeated  (Deut.  v.)  that  they  were  delivered  from  Horeb.  And 
also,  (Deut.  ix.  8,  9.)  "  In  Horeb  ye  provoked  the  Lord  to 
wrath — when  I  w^as  gone  up  into  the  mount  (i.  e.  Mount  Si- 
nai) to  receive  the  tables  of  tJie  covenant."  Hence  it  follows 
that  the  difference  between  these  mountains  can  be  no  other 
than  that  which  w^e  have  above  mentioned,  that  is,  that  they 
were  adjoining  mountains,  or  only  two  different  eminences  or 
peaks  of  the  same  mountain :  consequently,  the  removing  of 
the  Israelites  from  Rephidim,  near  wJiere  the  rock  of  Horeb 
was  smitten  by  Moses,  into  the  wilderness  of  Sinai,  was  only 
removing  from  one  end  or  side  of  the  same  mountain  to  the 
other ;  or,  at  most,  from  one  mountain  to  another  adjoining. 

Modern  travellers,  who  have  visited  r.Iount  Sinai,  say  l;hat 
it  presents  three  sublime  summits  of  red  granite.  Mount  Sinai, 
Mount  Horeb,  and  a  third  which  is  called  St.  Catharine's 
Mount.  Sinai  lies  to  the  east  and  Horeb  to  the  west,  so  that 
when  the  sun  rises,  Horeb  is  covered  by  the  shaJov/  of  Sinai. 
Mount  Horeb  has  abundance  of  fruit  trees  on  it,  and  threo 


46  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

fine  springs ;  but  there  is  none  but  rain-water  on  Mount  Sinai. 
But  the  most  remarkable  tiling*  to  be  seen  at  ilorcb,  is  a  soli- 
tary rock  of  red  marble,  about  four  yards  square,  whicli  is  be- 
lieved to  be  the  same  wliich  was  smitten  by  the  rod  of  i\ioses. 
It  has  several  openings  or  mouths,  from  which  it  is  supposed 
the  waters  flowed ;  some  of  them  having  horizontal  and  some 
perpendicular  cracks  or  clefts,  which  it  is  evident  could  never 
have  been  produced  by  any  tool.  Dr.  Shaw,  who  visite  i  this 
mountain,  says  that  the  waters  which  flowed  from  it  have  hol- 
lowed across  one  corner  of  the  rock  a  channel  about  two 
inches  deep,  and  twenty  wide,  which  yet  bears  evident  marks 
of  the  gushing  fountain. 

On  both  these  mountains  are  many  churches  and  monaste- 
ries, inhabited  by  monks  and  hermits,  who  are  chiefly  members 
of  the  Greek  Church.  Horeb  and  Sinai  are  situated  in  the 
north-west  of  Arabia,  between  the  two  arms  of  the  Red  Sea. 

16.  Tabrrah,  Kibroth-hatlaavah,  and  Hazeroth. — These 
were  encampments  or  stations  of  the  Israelites,  between  tjie 
wilderness  of  Sinai  and  the  wilderness  of  Paran.  Taberah, 
the  first,  was  noted  as  the  place  where  the  people  were  pun- 
ished for  their  murmurings  and  lusthigs,  with  a  fire  which 
consumed  some  of  them  :  hence  the  place  was  called  Taberah, 
i.  e.  burning.  Kibroth-hattaavah  means  the  graves  of  lust. ; 
and  was  so  named  from  the  people  being  buried  there  who 
died  of  the  p.^ague  sent  as  a  punishment  for  their  lusting.  At 
Hazeroth,  Miriam  was  punished  with  leprosy,  and  was  shut 
out  from  the  camp  seven  days,  because  she  and  Aaron  had 
spoken  against  JMoses  on  account  of  tlie  Cushite  or  Ethiopian 
woman  whom  he  had  married. 

17.  The  Wilderness  of  Paran. — After  leaving  Hazeroth, 
the  Israelites  next  pitched  in  the  wilderness  of  Paran.  This 
term,  in  a  comprehensive  sense,  seems  to  have  denoted  all  the 
desert  and  mountainous  tract  lying  between  the  wilderness  of 
Shur,  on  the  west,  and  Mount  Seir  or  the  Land  of  Edom,  on 
the  east;  having  the  Land  of  Canaan  on  the  north,  and  the 
Red  Sea  on  the  south.  In  this  sense,  it  seems  to  have  com- 
prehended the  wilderness  of  Sin,  and  the  wilderness  of  Sinai ; 
also  the  adjoinin<T  tract,  in  which  lay  Kibroth-hattaavah  and 
Hazeroth.  In  this  sense  it  is  probably  understood,  Deut.  i.  19. 
where  by  "  that  great  and  terrible  wilderness,"  is  probably 
intended  the  wilderness  of  Paran.  But  in  a  stricter  sense  it 
seems  to  have  included  only  that  part  of  Arabia  Petraca 
which  lies  northward  from  Mount  Smai,  about  Hazeroth. 


JQURNEYINOS   OF   THE   ISRAELITES.  47 

From  the  wilderness  of  Paran,  Moses  sent  a  man  out  of  ever' 
tribe,  to  spy  out  the  Land  of  Canaan,  (Numb.  xiii.  3.)  wh*" 
returned  to  iiim  after  forty  days,  unto  the  same  wilderness,  tt 
Kadesh  Barnea.    (N'umb.  xiii.  25.  Eeut.  i.  19.  Josh.  xiv.  7.) 

18.  Kadesh,  or  Kadesh  Burnea. — The  encampment  at  thii 
place  is  not  particularly  spec*ified  by  Moses,  but  is  probabl} 
denoted  by  some  of  the  encampments  mentioned  under  othei 
names  ;  for  we  are  told  (l)eut.  i.  46.)  that  the  Israelites  abode 
in  Kadesh  many  days.  Therefore  it  is  likely  that  they 
made  several  movements  or  new  encampments  during  their 
stay,  which  may  be  the  reason  that  the  single  name  of  Kadesh 
is  not  mentioned  to  designate  the  place  of  their  stay,  but  the 
several  particular  names  by  which  their  several  particular 
encam.pments  were  distinguished.  This  Kadesh  is  evidently 
a  different  place  from  the  Kadesh  in  the  wilderness  of  Zin, 
mentioned  in  Numb,  xxxiii.  36.  It  was  at  Kadesh  Barnea 
that  the  spies  returned,  after  searching  the  Land  of  Canaan,  to 
which  they  were  then  very  near ;  and  there,  by  reason  of  their 
infidelity,  brought  on  themselves  the  judgment  of  wandering 
in  the  desert,  till  they  should  have  filled  up  the  space  of  forty 
years  from  their  coming  out  of  Egypt.  But  the  Israelites  did 
not  come  to  Kadesh  in  the  v/ilderness  of  Zin,  till  the  last  year 
of  the  forty,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  death  of  Aaron, 
(Numb,  xxxiii.  38.)  And  as  it  is  probable  that  Miriam  died 
but  a  few  months  before  Aaron,  so  it  is  certam  she  died  at  Ka- 
desh in  the  wilderness  of  Zin.  (Numb.  xx.  1.) 

19.  Journeys  from  Kadesh,  in  the  Wilderness  of  Paran, 
to  the  Wilderness  of  Zin. — The  encampments  mentioned  in 
Numb,  xxxiii.  from  about  verse  20  to  36,  were  probably  be- 
tween the  decamping  from  Kadesh  Bamea,  to  the  encamping 
at  Kadesh  in  the  wilderness  of  Zin.  None  of  these  are  of 
much  interest  in  a  geographical  or  historical  point  of  view, 
except  Ezion-gaber  (Numb,  xxxiii.  35.)  and  Elath  mentioned 
with  it,  Deut.  ii.  8. 

20.  Ezion-gaber  and  Eloth. — Ezion-gaber  was  a  city  of 
Idumea  or  Arabia  Deserta,  east  from  the  Red  Sea,  and  upon 
the  eastern  arm  of  this  sea,  called  the  Gulf  of  Elah  or  Eloth. 
At  this  port  Solomon  equipped  his  fleet  for  the  voyage  to 
Ophir. 

Eloth  was  probably  also  a  sea-port,  near  the  former,  on  the 
same  gulf;  and  was  also  visited  by  king  Solomon.  2  Chron. 
viii.  17.  . 

21.  The  Wilderness  of  Zin. — It  is  evident  from  Numb. 


48  BCRIPTtRE    GEOGRAPHY. 

xxxiv.  3.  4.  and  Josh.  xv.  1-3,  that  this  wilderness  lay  south- 
east of  the  Land  of  Israel,  along  the  border  of  Edom,  We 
have  already  observed  that  Kadesh  in  the  wilderness  of  Zin, 
was  different  from  Kadesh  in  the  wilderness  of  Paran,  vvhich 
was  further  westward.  Some  writers  indeed  make  the  wil- 
derness of  Zin  to  lie  on  the  west  of  Edom,  but  we  think  Dr. 
Wells'  reasonmg  conclusive,  that  it  was  eastward  of  tJiat 
country. 

22.  Mount  Hor. — From  Kadesh  the  Israelites  removed  to 
Mount  Hor,  which  is  remarkable  as  the  place  where  Aaron 
died.  This  v/as  the  edge  of  the  land  of  Edom,  and  from 
what  has  been  said  before,  probably  the  eastern  boundary. 
The  former  inhabitants  of  Edom  were  called  Horites,  but 
whether  they  took  their  name  from  the  mountain,  or  the 
mountain  from  them,  is  not  certain,  but  probably  the  latter, 
as  places  in  those  days  generally  took  their  names  from  the 
inhabitants.  With  regard  to  the  difficulty  concerning  the 
place  of  Aaron's  death  and  burial,  Vvliich  arises  from  compar- 
ing Numb.  XX.  23-29.  and  xxxiii.  37.  38.  with  Deut.  x.  6.,  Dr. 
Wells  observes  that  there  has  evidently  been  an  error  of  some 
of  the  early  Hebrew  copyists;  and  shows  by  a  reference  to 
the  old  Hebrevv'-Samaritan  copy  of  the  Scriptures,  that  the 
error  is  in  Deut.  x.  6,  and  that  Aaron  died  and  was  buried  in 
Mount  Hor.  This  will  also  account  for  the  diiference  in  the 
order  of  encampments  observed  in  the  same  place. 

23.  Encampments  from  Mount  Hor  to  the  Valley  of  Zered. 
— After  leav^ing  Mount  Hor,  the  Israelites  "  journeyed  by  the 
way  of  the  Red  Sea,  to  compass  the  Land  of  Edom."  (Numb, 
xxi.  4.)  The  expression  "  by  the  way  of  the  Red  Sea,"  here 
probably  means  not  along  the  coast  of  the  Red  Sea,  for  they 
were  then  advancing  to  the  northward  further  from  it ;  but 
that  they  went  by  the  way  or  road  used  by  the  ])eople  of  Ca- 
naan and  the  countries  east  of  it,  in  their  journeys  to  and  from 
the  Red  Sea.  The  Israelites  passed  by  this  way,  round  the 
eastern  border  of  the  Land  of  Edom,  and  encamped  in  Zalmo- 
nah,  in  Punon,  and  in  Oboth.  In  this  passage  the  people  be- 
came discouraged,  and  "spake  against  God,  and  against  Moses." 
(Numb.  xxi.  5!)  For  this  they  were  punished  by  hery  ser- 
pents, which  bit  them,  and  many  of  them  died  ;  but  tliey  were 
at  length  relieved  by  a  brazen  serpent  which  the  Lord  directed 
Moses  to  make. 

From  Oboth,  they  removed  to  Ije-abarim  in  the  eastern 
border  of  Moab :  this  place  is  elsewhere  called  lim,  and  lay 


JOURNEYINGS   OF   THE   ISRAELITES.  49 

in  the  Land  of  Moab,  east  of  the  Dead  Sea.  The  Valley  of 
Zered  was  the  plam  throug-h  which  flowed  the  brook  Zered 
or  Zared,  which  emptied  into  the  eastern  side  of  the  Dead 
Sea. 

24.  From  the  Valley  of  Zered  to  the  Mountains  ofAbarim. 
— From  the  Valley  of.  Zered  the  Israelites  removed,  and 
pitched  on  the  other  side  of  Arnon,  (Numb.  xxi.  13.)  proba- 
bly at  the  place  called  Dibon  Gad,  in  Numb,  xxxiii.  45,  46. 
This,  and  the  next  station,  Almon-diblathaim,  were  in  the 
land  of  the  Amorites ;  for  they  had  crossed  the  river  Arnon, 
w^hich  was  the  boundary  between  Moab  and  the  Amorites. 
(Numb.  xxi.  13.) 

25.  The  Mountains  of  Ahariin,  Mounts  Neho  and  Pisgah. 
— The  Abarim  were  a  ridge  of  mountains  between  the  rivers 
Arnon  and  Jordan,  of  considerable  extent,  separating-  the  Land 
of  Canaan  from  the  Moabites,  Amorites,  and  Ammonites. 
They  were  steep  and  high  mountains,  presenting  from  their 
summits  a  grand  view  of  the  Land  of  Canaan. 

Mount  Nebo  was  one  of  this  chain,  probably  the  highest, 
and  was  situated  near  Jordan,  over-against  Jericho.  It  would 
seem  from  Deut.  xxxiv.  1,  that  Nebo  and  Pisgah  were  the 
same  mountain,  and  that  if  there  w^ere  any  distmction,  it  was 
either  the  top  of  the  mountain  that  was  more  peculiarly 
called  Pisgah,  or  some  part  of  it  where  there  were  steps  cut 
out  to  go  up.  The  name  signifies  high  hill,  whence  it  was 
probably  the  most  elevated  summit.  But,  according  to  Eu- 
sebius,  Aquila,  who  translated  the  Bible  mto  Greek,  has  al- 
ways rendered  the  Hebrew  term  Pisgah,  by  a  word  \vhich 
signifies  to  cut  out ;  and  so,  in  some  places,  do  the  LXX. 
translators.  Hence,  some  have  thought  it  probable  that  in 
one  part  of  Mount  Nebo,  steps  were  cut  out,  to  aid  in  the  as- 
cent of  the  mountain,  and  that  this  part  was  called  Pisgah. 
The  prospect  of  Canaan  from  this  mountain  was  very  exten- 
sive, including  the  whole  of  the  country,  from  Dan  in  the 
north,  to  Zoar  in  the  south.  Some  writers  have  questioned 
w^hether  this  was  not  the  mountain  to  which  our  Lord  was 
taken  by  the  tempter ;  whence  the  view  was  so  extensive  as 
to  be  called  figuratively  all  the  world. 

A  city  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben  was  called  Nebo,  probably 
from  this  mountain ;  and  also  the  city  Ashdoth-Pisgah.  (Josh, 
xiii.  20.) 

20.  Encampment  in  the  Plains  of  Moab. — After  the  Isra- 
elites had  removed  from  the  mountains  of  Abarun,  they 
E 


60  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

pitched  their  tents  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  by  Jordan,  near 
Jericho.  And  they  pitched  by  Jordan  in  sucli  a  manner,  that 
their  camp  extended  from  Beth-jesimoth  unto  Abel-shiltim,  in 
the  phiiiis  of  Moab.  (Numb,  xxxiii.  48.  49.)  Beth-jesimoth 
was  a  city  given  afterwards  to  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  It  lay 
in  the  soutii  border  of  the  kingdom  of  Sihon,  not  far  from  the 
Dead  Sea.  (Josh.  xii.  3.)  Eusebius  mentions  a  place  called 
Beth-simath,  which  is  probably  the  same,  lying  east  of  Jor- 
dan, about  ten  miles  south-eastward  from  Jericho. 

Abel-shittim,  or  the  Valley  of  Shitiim,  lay  some  distance 
northward  from  Beth-jesimoth.  It  is,  in  other  passages  of 
Scripture,  simply  called  Shittim.  It  is  thought  by  some  that 
the  shittim-wcod,  so  frequently  spoken  of,  took  its  name  from 
this  place,  w^here  it  probably  grew  very  abundantly. 

This  is  the  last  encampment  mentioned,  and  ends  the  Mo 
saic  history  of  the  journey  ings  of  the  Israelites  from  the  Land 
of  Egypt  to  Canaan. 

We  shall  close  our  account  of  this  interesting  subject,  by 
the  following  general  observations. 

From  Egypt  to  Baalzephon,  or  Suez,  it  is  certain  that  Mo- 
ses followed  the  customary  read  now  taken  by  the  caravans  of 
pilgrims ;  here  he  turned  off,  crossed  the  Red  Sea,  and  led  his 
people  to  Mount  Sinai,  for  the  purpose  of  soleminly  engaging 
them  in  devotion  and  consecration  to  the  Deity,  who  had  ap- 
peared to  him  there  before,  (Exod.  iii.)  and  had  given  him,  as 
a  token,  this  very  solemnity,  (verse  12.) 

Having  accomplished  the  sacred  transactions  at  Sinai, 
Moses  had  his  choice  of  three  ways  to  reach  the  Land  of  Ca- 
naan. 1.  By  a  northerly  course  directly  through  the  country 
of  the  Edomites.  2.  By  going  back  again  to  the  common 
track  from  Egypt  to  Canaan,  and  so  entering  it  on  the  south- 
west. 3.  By  taking  a  north-easterly  course  around  Edom. 
The  first  route  was  occupied  by  enemies;  for  the  Edomites 
refused  them  a  passage  through  their  country.  The  second 
they  fjllowed  till  they  reached  the  boundary  of  their  expected 
country  at  Kadesh  Barnea ;  but  here  they  were  turned  back 
by  the  faint-hearted  reports  of  their  spies,  and  by  their  own 
folly  and  discontent,  llence  they  retreated  again  through 
the  wilderness,  again  passed  not  far  from  Sinai  in  their  jour- 
ney to  Eloth  and  Ezion-gaber,  and  finally  entered  Canaan  by 
the  north-easterly  route,  around  Mount  Scir  or  Edom. 

It  appears  that  INIoses  judged  rightly  of  his  people  at  first, 
that  war  would  have  terrified  them ;  and  that  even  after  they 


THE    CONQUEST   OF    CANAAN.  51 

had  been  sottig  time  under  his  direction,  their  courag-e  wag 
very  moderate,  and  their  habits  of  submission  very  weak : 
as  in  the  tirst  instance  they  would  not  fig'ht,  and  in  the 
second  they  would  not  obey.  But  after  this  capricious  gene- 
ration had  passed  away,  better  discipline  produced  better  ef- 
fects, and  a  miitinoas  spirit  no  longer  prevailing,  Joshua,  the 
successor  of  Moses,  effected  his  purpose  on  the  east  of  Canaan. 
This  chang'e  in  the  point  of  attack,  changed  also  the  enemy  to 
be  attacked  ;  for  the  people  on  the  east  of  Canaan,  not  benig 
assisted  by  those  on  the  west,  their  subjection  was  more  easy. 
The  passage  of  the  Jordan,  too,  cut  off  the  southern  part  of 
Canaan  from  the  northern ;  and  by  being  thus  divided,  each 
division  opposed  less  resistance,  as  they  could  not  act  in  con- 
cert together ;  and  more  force  could  be  employed  against  each, 
under  the  entire  uncertainty  of  what  district  would  be  next 
invaded. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE    CONaUEST  OF  CANAAN. 

I.   The  Country  east  of  Jordan. 
1.   The  original  inhabitants  of  the  country  east  of  Jordan. 

As  it  may  be  of  use,  for  the  clearer  understanding  of  sa- 
cred history,  we  shall  first  give  a  short  account  of  the  several 
people  who  successively  held  dominion  in  these  regions. 

It  has  been  formerly  observed  that  Uz,  one  of  the  sons  of 
Aram,  settled  in  the  parts  of  Syria  about  Damascus ;  and  so 
this  country  beyond  Jordan,  of  which  we  are  now  speaking, 
was  probably  at  first  possessed  by  the  descendants  of  Uz. 
Whence  it  is  thought,  by  many  ancient  as  well  as  modern 
writers,  that  tlie  Land  of  Uz,  mentioned  in  the  book  of  Job, 
is  the  country  lying  originally  between  Damascus  on  the  north, 
and  the  plantitior  of  Cusb,  or  Arabia,  on  the  south ;  having 
the  Land  of  Canaan  on  the  west,  and  Arabia  Deserta  east. 
But  when  Abraliam  first  sojourned  in  the  Land  of  Canaan, 
we  find  this  country  possessed  by  the  Rephaim,  Zuzim,  and 
Emim ;  names  which  imply  men  of  more  than  ordinary 
strength,  and  of  a  gigantic  race.  (Deut.  ii.  10-21.)  These 
are  thought  not  to  be  the  descendants  of  Uz,  but  perhaps  of 


52  SOKIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY. 

the  Anakim  and  Rephaim,  Canaanitish  giants,  who  might 
have  seized  on  the  country  for  themselves.  It  is  said  (Deut. 
iii.  11.)  that  Og,  a  king  of  the  Am.orites,  was  of  the  Rephaim. 

The  country  east  of  Jordan  being  depopulated  by  the  great 
overthrow  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  it,  the  Rephaim,  Zuzirn, 
and  Emim,  by  Cliedorlaomer,  (Gen.  xiv.  5.)  and  by  the  num- 
bers that  were  probably  carried  away  captives,  tlie  descend- 
a,nts  of  Lot,  i.  e.  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites,  found  it  no  dif- 
ficult matter  to  settle  in  these  parts.  For  we  read  (Deut.  ii. 
9.  10.)  that  the  Moabites  possessed  tlie  country  wherein  tlie 
Emim  dwelt,  in  times  past ;  and  also,  (verse  19.  20.)  that  the 
Ammonites  possessed  the  country  wherein  the  Zamzummim 
or  Zuzim  dwelt  in  old  times.  The  river  Jabbok  seems  to  have 
been  the  boundary  between  the  Rephaim  and  the  Zamzum- 
mim, and  it  does  not  appear  that  the  country  of  the  Rephaim 
was  ever  possessed  by  the  descendants  of  Lot.  It  is  obsei-ved 
(Deut.  iii.  11.)  that  Og,  ki*ig  of  Bas!ian.j  was.  of  the  j-emnant 
of  the  Rephaim  or  giants ;  so  that  it  is  probable  Ithat Ihe/'fetili 
kept  up  their  kingdom  under  a  ruler  of  their  Own.  until  con- 
quered by  the  Israelites. 

2.  Land  of  the  Ammonites. 

It  seems  from  Judges  xi.  13,  that  the  country  east  of  Jor- 
dan from  the  river  Jabbok,  as  far  south  as  the  Arnon,  was  the 
land  of  the  Ammonites ;  yet  it  is  certain  that  the  south  part 
of  it  towards  the  Arnon  was  formerly  inhabited  by  the  Moab- 
ites. Some  have  conjectured  that  the  Moabites  in  this  part 
were  tributary,  or  under  subjection  to  the  Ammonites,  and  so 
the  king  of  tlie  Ammonites  might  claim  the  whole  country 
between  the  two  rivers,  as  belonging  to  him.  Besides  this, 
the  Ammonites  possessed  a  considerable  tract  to  the  east,  be- 
yond the  hills  that  bounded  the  eastern  part  of  the  country 
beyond  Jordan.  This  they  still  held  after  they  were  dispos- 
sessed of  the  country  immediately  on  the  east  of  Jordan  by 
the  Amorites;  and  this  country  east  of  those  hills,  where  they 
still  kept  their  ground,  is  in  Scripture  called  the  Land  of  the 
Children  of  Amnion. 

The  principal  city  of  the  Ammonites  was  called  Rabbah : 
Stephanus  says  that  it  was  also  called  Ammana,  either  from 
Animon,  the  "founder  of  the  nation,  or  from  its  being  the  chief 
city  of  the  children  of  Ammon.  Dr.  Wells  thinks  it  probable 
that  the  name  may  have  come  from  a  city  of  the  Zuzim  in 
this  country,  called  Ham.  This  city  was  in  after  ages  called 
Philadelphia,  from  Ptolemy  Philadelphus,  king  of  Egypt,  who, 


CONQUEST    OF    CANAAN.  53 

having"  made  himself  master  of  this  country,  repaired  and 
beautified  the  city:  but  it  never  occurs  under  this  name  in 
Scripture. 

3.  Land  of  the  Moahites. 

Besides  the  country  which  the  Moabites  possessed  north  of 
the  Arnon,  and  which  Silion,  king  of  the  Amorites,  took  from 
them,  they  possessed  also  a  tract  south  of  that  river,  between 
Edom  to  the  west,  and  Midian  to  the  south  and  east.  This 
they  held,  after  the  loss  of  the  other  part  of  their  country. 
The  chief  city  of  the  Moabites  was  Ar,  caV.ed  by  the  Greek 
writers  Areopolis ;  it  was  sometimes  also  called  Moab. 

After  the  captivity  of  the  ten  tribes,  the  Moabites  repossess- 
ed themselves  of  several  places  north  of  the  river  Arnon ; 
from  which  it  happens  that  in  the  prophecies  against  Moab,  we 
find  Heshbon  and  several  other  places,  once  beJonging  to  the 
tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad,  mentioned  as  belongmg  to  the 
Moabites. 

4.  Kingdoms  of  Sihon  and  Og. 

Sihon  was  king  of  the  Amorites  who  had  come  from  the 
west  of  Jordan  and  dispossessed  the  Moabites  and  Ammonites 
on  the  east  of  that  river.  This  kingdom  was  bounded  north 
by  the  river  Jabbok,  which  separated  it  from  the  kingdom  of 
Og ;  east  by  the  mountains  which  bounded  it  from  the  Am- 
monites; south  by  the  Arnon,  between  it  and  tlie  Moabites. 
and  west  b}^  the  Jordan,  which  parted  it  from  Canaan.  The 
capital  city  was  Heshbon. 

The  kingdom  of  Og  lay  north  of  the  river  Jabbok,  extend- 
ing northward  as  far  as  Mount  Hermon,  a  part  of  the  cham 
called  Mount  Lebanon ;  having  tlie  Jordan  on  the  west,  and 
the  hills  of  Gilead  on  the  east.  It  is  also  called  the  kingdom 
of  Bashan,  whence  came  the  Greek  word  Batanea,  denoting 
these  parts  in  after  ages.  The  chief  cities  of  this  kingdom 
were  Ashtaroth  and  Edrei.  Ashtaroth  lay  in  the  north,  and 
is  otherwise  called  Ashtaroth-Karnaim,  whence  the  name 
Carnea,  by  which  it  was  aftervv^ards  known.  Edrei  was  more 
southerly,  and  was  in  later  ages  called  Adara. 

5.  Kedemcth  and  Jahaz. 

The  wilderness  of  Kedemoth,  whence  Moses  sent  messen- 
gers to  Sihon,  king  of  Heshbon,  (Deut.  ii.  26.)  lay  along  the 
river  Arnon,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  country,  and  is  proba- 
bly the  wilderness  mentioned  in  Judges  xi.  22.  Jahaz  was  a 
place  in,  or  near,  this  wilderness. 
E2 


54  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

6.  Argoh,  BasJian,  and  Gilead. 

These  were  parts  of  the  king-dom  of  Bashan.  (Deut.  iii.  4. 
and  13,  14,  15.)  Arg-ob  seems  to  have  been  a  part  of  this 
kingdom  given  to  Jair,  as  Gilead  was  to  Machir ;  so  that  the 
two  probably  formed  the  country  or  kingdom  of  I3ashan,  Gi- 
lead was  the  part  wherein  were  the  mountains  or  hills  of 
Gilead ;  consequently  Argob  was  the  remaining,  or  northern 
part. 

7.  Pethor,  the  city  of  Balaam. 

Balaam  was  a  famous  soothsayer  or  divuier  of  those  times, 
who  was  sent  for  by  the  king  of  Moab  to  curse  the  people  of 
Israel,  because  he  feared  them.  (Numb.  xxii.  3-6.)  Pethor, 
the  city  where  he  dwelt,  is  called  in  Hebrew  Pethura.  It  is 
called  Pachora,  by  Ptolemy,  and  Pathura  by  Eusebius,  who 
places  it  in  Upper  Mesopotamia.  Calmet  supposes  it  to  be 
situated  towards  Thapsacus,  beyond  tlie  Euphrates.  It  was 
certainly  in  Mesopotamia.  (Deut.  xxiii.  4.) 
•  8.  Peo7',  or  Baal  Peor. 

Peer  is  thought  to  have  been  a  part  of  the  mountains  of 
Abarim.  On  this  mount  seems  to  have  stood  the  temple  of  an 
idol,  called  Peor,  or  Baal  Peor ;  in  whose  sacrifices  the  Israel- 
ites partook,  while  encamped  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  by  which 
they  greatly  provoked  God.  (Numb.  xxv.  1-5.) 

II.   The  Country  west  of  Jordan,  or  Canaan  Proper. 

Moses  having  died,  Joshua  succeeded  him  as  leader  of  the 
Israelites,  and  prepared  to  pass  the  Jordan.  On  the  day  after 
the  return  of  the  two  spies  who  had  been  sent  to  Jericho,  he 
removed  the  camp  from  Shittim,  and  came  to  Jordan.  (Josh, 
iii.  1.)  Here  they  remained  three  days,  after  which  they 
crossed  Jordan,  opposite  Jericho,  on  dry  ground ;  the  waters 
which  came  down  from  the  upper  part  of  the  stream  standing 
and  rising  np  in  a  heap,  as  far  as  from  the  city  Adam, 
which  was  a  city  on  the  east  of  Jordan,  not  far  from  where 
they  crossed. 

1.  Gilgal. 

This  was  the  station  where  they  encamped,  after  having 
crossed  the  Jordan ;  and  the  place  wliere  circumcision  was  re- 
newed ;  it  having  been  neglected  during  their  wanderings  in 
the  desert.  (Josh. v.  2-9.)  Gilgal  was  situated  between  the  Jor- 
dan and  Jericho.  Josephus  says  tliat  Jericlio  was  sixty  furlongs 
from  Jordan,  and  that  Gilgal  was  fifty;  hence  from  Gilgal  to 


CONQUEST   OF   CANAAN,  55 

Jericho  was  ten  furlongs  westward,  or  about  a  mile  and  a 
quarter.    Others  say,  two  miles. 

2.  Jericho. 

This  was  the  first  city  taken  by  Joshua  from  the  Canaan- 
ites:  he  destroyed  it,  and  pronounced  a  severe  curse  on  him 
wlio  should  rebuild  it.  This  -was,  however,  done,  about  530 
years  after,  by  Hiel,  the  Bethelite,  (1  Kings  xvi.  34.)  on  whom 
the  curse  accordingly  fell.  This  was  the  city  honoured  by 
the  presence  of  our  Saviour,  and  where  he  WTought  some 
miracles.  It  was  destroyed  by  the  Romans,  during  the  siege 
of  Jerusalem,  on  account  of  the  treachery  of  its  inhabitants. 
A  third  city  was  afterwards  built,  but  it  seems  not  exactly  in 
the  place  where  stood  the  former  two ;  as  Eusebius  tells  us 
tliat  in  his  day  the  ruins  of  both  the  former  were  still  shown. 
Jericho  is  now  called  Raha,  or  Eriha,  and  is  a  poor  dirty 
village,  inliabited  by  Arabs.  It  is  six  leagues  north-east  from 
Jerusalem,  and  stands  in  a  plain,  surrounded  by  barren  moun- 
tains. This  plain  is,  however,  extremely  fertile,  and  is  watered 
by  a  number  of  rivulets  which  flow  mto  the  Jordan. 

In  the  latter  days  of  the  Jewish  government,  Jericho  was 
reckoned  the  second  city  in  Judea ;  in  its  royal  palace  Herod 
died :  it  had  also  magnificent  theatres  and  other  noble  build 
ings.  Here  was  also  established  a  famous  theological  semi- 
nary, or  school  of  prophets ;  m  which,  says  the  Jerusalem  Tal- 
mud, were  twelve  thousand  priests,  ready  to  supply  deficien- 
cies which  might  occur  in  the  temple  at  Jerusalem. 

3.  The  valley  of  Achor. 

After  the  destruction  of  Jericho,  Joshua  sent  two  or  three 
thousand  men  against  iVi ;  but  these  being  beaten,  he  inquired 
the  reason  of  God,  and  was  answered  that  it  was  because 
some  of  the  Israelites  had  sinned.  The  offender  was  found 
to  be  Achan,  who  was  put  to  death  in  the  Valley  of  Achor, 
so  named  from  the  trouble  brought  upon  the  Israelites  by  this 
sin ;  the  Hebrew  word  Achor  signifying  trouble.  It  is  evi- 
dent that  this  valley  must  have  been  near  Jericho. 

4.  Ai,  and  Bethaven. 

On  the  second  attack,  Joshua  took  Ai  by  stratagem  and 
burnt  it.  We  have  already  mentioned  this  place  under  the 
name  of  Hai,  in  our  account  of  the  sojourning  of  Abraham. 
It  lay  east  of  Bethel,  and  not  far  from  it.  Eusebius  and  Jerom 
say  that  in  their  time  some  small  rufns  of  it  were  yet  remain- 
ing. Masius  tells  us  that  Ai  was  three  leagues  from  Jericho, 
and  Bethel  one  league  from  Ai, 


56  .      SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 

Bethaven  was  near  Ai,  (Josh.  vii.  2.)  and  seems  to  nave 
been  a  distinct  place  from  Bethel,  though  some  have  thought, 
from  a  passage  in  Hosea,  that  tJiey  were  the  same.  The 
wilderness  of  Bethaven,  in  the  north  of  the  tribe  of  Benja- 
min, (Josh,  xviii.  12.)  was  probably  named  from  this  place, 
and  lay  near  it. 

5.  Cities  of  the  Gibeonites. 

The  cities  of  the  Gibeonites  were  Gibeon,  Chephirah, 
Beeroth  and  Kirjath-jearim.  (Josh.  ix.  17.) 

Gibeon  is  said  (Josh.  x.  2.)  to  have  been  a  great  city, 
greater  tlian  Ai.  It  was  situated  on  an  eminence,  about 
thirty  furlongs  from  Jerusalem,  northward,  and  not  far  from 
the  city  of  Gibeah.  According  to  Eusebius  and  Jerom,  it  was 
a  royal  city,  and  the  metropolis  of  the  Hivites.  Eusebius  says 
that  it  was  still  a  town  or  village  in  his  time,  yet  retaining  its 
old  name,  being  four  miles  west  from  Bethel.  Of  Chephirah 
nothing  is  known  but  the  name,  and  that  it  afterwards  be- 
longed to  the  tribe  of  Benjamin. 

Beeroth,  say  Eusebius  and  Jerom,  lay  near  the  hill  of  Gibe- 
on, being,  in  their  days,  a  town  or  village  in  the  road  from 
Jerusalem  to  Sichem,  seven  miles  from  the  former. 

Kirjath-jearim  lay  nine  miles  west  from  Jerusalem.  It  is 
frequently  mentioned  in  Scripture.  Here  the  ark  abode 
twenty  years,  from  the  time  it  was  sent  away  by  the  Philis- 
tines, till  David  removed  it  to  Jerusalem.  It  was  also  the 
native  place  of  Urijah,  the  prophet,  who  was  slain  by  Jehoia- 
kim.  (Jer.  xxvi.  20.) 

6.  Beth-horon,  and  AzeJiah. 

These  places  are  mentioned  in  the  account  of  the  over- 
throw, by  Joshua,  of  the  kings  of  Hebron,  Jarmuth,  Lachish, 
and  Eglon,  who  had  confederated  with  the  Idng  of  Jerusa- 
lem to  attack  the  Gibeonites,  after  these  last  had  made  peace 
with  Joshua. 

There  appear  to  be  two  places  named  Beth-horon  in  Scrip- 
ture, i.  e.  the  upper  and  the  nether,  (1  Chron.  vii.  24.)  and  it 
seems  they  both  lay  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  The  one  men- 
tioned in  this  battle  of  Joshua  with  the  kings,  must  have  been 
in  the  south  of  Ephraim,  not  far  from  GilDcon ;  Upper  Beth- 
horon  was  farther  north.  Azekah  lay  in  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
westward  from  Jerusalem. 

7.  Ajalan. 

The  Valley  of  Ajalon  is  famous  as  the  place  where  the  sun 
and  moon  stood  still,  at  the  command  of  Joshua,  mitil  Israel 


CONQUEST   OF   CANAAN.  57 

had  avenged  themselves  upon  their  enemies.  The  city  of 
Ajalon  probably  stood  in  this  valley ;  it  was  situated  between 
Timnath  and  Betlishemesh,  in  the  tribe  of  Dan;  and  was  one 
of  the  cities  given  to  the  Levites.  (Josh  xxi.  24.)  It  seems, 
however,  that  the  Danites  were  never  able  to  drive  the  Amor- 
ites  out  of  Ajalon.  (Judges  i.  35.) 

There  were  three  other  cities  of  this  "name ;  one  in  the 
tribe  of  Benjamin,  three  miles  east  of  Bethel ;  another  in 
Ephraim,  two  miles  from  Shechem,  m  the  way  to  Jerusalem, 
east  of  Beth-horon ;  and  a  third  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  the 
situation  of  Vv^hich  is  not  exactly  known. 

8.  Makhedah. 

Near  this  to'^vn  was  the  cave  where  the  five  kings  who  had 
fled  from  Joshua,  hid  themselves,  whom  he,  after  the  battle, 
put  to  death.  Makkedah  was  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  twelve 
or  fourteen  mil es^outh- westward.- from  Jerusalem.  : 

9.  Libnali,  and'Lachish. 

.  These  were  cities  taken  by  Joshua  after  Makkedah.  (Josh. 
X.  29-32.)  Libnah  was  in  tiie  tribe  of  Judah,  not  far  from 
Makkedah ;  being  about  sixteen.'miles  south-west  from  Jeru- 
salem.. 

Lachish  was  also  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  near  the  last  men- 
tioned places.  It  is  frequently  mentioned  in  Scripture  ;  and, 
together  with  Libnah,  was  besieged  in  the  days  of  Hezekiah, 
king  of  Judah,  by  Sennacherib,  king  of  Assyria.  (2  Kings 
xix.  8.) 

10.  Gezer. 

"  Horam,  king  of  Gezer,  came  to  help  Lachish,  and  Joshua 
smote  hun  and  his  people."  (Josh.  x.  33.)  This  Gezer  lay  in 
the  south  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  not  far  from  Beth-horon, 
(Josh.  xvi.  3.)  and  seems  to  have  been  a  strong  place,  as  it 
was  not  taken  by  Joshua,  who  only  overcame  the  king  and 
his  people  who  had  come  to  Lachish :  Gezer  itself  seems  to 
have  held  out  until  taken  by  the  king  of  Egypt,  by  whom  it 
was  given  to  liis  daughter,  the  wife  of  kmg  Solomon.  (1  Kings 
ix.  16.) 

11.  Eglon. 

The  king  of  this  city  was  another  of  the  five  kings :  it  was 
taken  by  Joshua  after  he  had  conquered  Lachish,  from  which 
it  was  not  far ;  being  also  in  the  west  of  the  possessions  of  the 
tribe  of  Judah. 

12.  Dehir,  or  Kirjatli-sepher. 

After  having  taken  Eglon,  Joshua  advanced  against  He- 


68  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPmr. 

bron,  which  he  also  took.  Of  Hebron  we  have  already  treated. 
From  Hebron  he  returned  to  Debir,  and  took  it.  (Josh.  x.  36- 
39.)  This  city  also  had  two  other  names,  Kirjath-sepher,  and 
Kirjath-sannah,  (Josli.  xv.  15  and  49.)  The  \vord  Kiriutli  or 
Kirjath^  in  Hebrew,  signifies  a  city,  and  Scpher  a  book  ; 
whence  some  have  thought  that  this  Ki-rjath-sephcr,  or  city 
of  the  book,  was  an  old  literary  academy,  or  some  learned  in- 
stitution of  the  Canaanites.  Others  suppose  it  was  so  called 
from  some  writings  or  national  records  being  kept  there.  The 
other  name  of  this  place,  Kirjath-sannah,  may  mean  tlie  city 
of  the  bush,  or  of  sharpening ;  denoting  that  it  lay  among  the 
bushes  or  thickets,  or  the  place  where  men's  minds  were 
sharpened  by  learning.  This  city  lay  not  far  from  Hebron,  in 
the  south  of  Jadah. 

13.  Goshen,  in  Canaan. 

We  read  (Josh.  x.  41.)  that  Joshua  smote  them  from  Ka- 
desh-barnea,  even  unto  Gaza ;  and  all  tlie  country  of  Goshen, 
even  unto  Gibeon.  This  country  of  Goshen  was  situated  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  about  a  city  called 
also  Goshen ;  possibly  lying  in  a  fat  good  soil,  and  so  named 
from  resembling  the  Land  of  Goshen  m  Egypt. 

14.  The  Waters  of  Merom. 

In  this  expedition  Joshua  had  conquered  all  the  south  of 
Canaan,  and  so  he  returned  with  his  army  to  Gilgal.  This 
was  seven  years  after  the  entrance  of  the  Israelites  into  Ca- 
naan. Tiiey  remained  in  the  camp  at  Gilgal  some  time ;  but 
the  kings  in  tlie  north,  having  heard  of  their  conquests  in  the 
south,  joined  all  their  forces,  and  encamped  at  the  waters  of 
Merom,  to  fight  against  Israel.  It  is  generally  agreed  that 
the  waters  of  Merom,  here  mentioned,  denote  lake  Seniechon, 
near  the  head  of  Jordan,  above  the  lake  of  Gennesareth. 
During  the  melting  of  the  snows  in  Mount  Lebanon,  Lake 
Merom  overflows  a  space  of  about  two  leagues  in  circuit;  but 
in  summer,  during  the  great  heats,  it  is  nearly  dry.  This 
marsh  is  covered  with  reeds  and  shrubs,  and  the  neighbour- 
hood is  infested  by  wild  beasts  which  come  down  from  the 
neighbouring  mountains. 

15.  Hazor,  Madon,  tihimron,  and  Achshaph. 

Hazor,  of  which  Jabin  was  king,  lay  near  Lake  Merom. 
Jabin,  who  appears  to  have  been  the  chief  prince  in  those 
parts,  having  summoned  tlie  other  kings  in  the  north  of  Ca- 
naan, to  join  him  against  Israel,  they  accordingly  encamped 
together  near  the  waters  of  Merom.    But  they  were  entire  • 


CONQUEST   OF   CANAAN.  59 

ly  routed  by  Joshua,  who  took  Hazor,  burnt  it,  and  slew  its 
king".  The  other  cities  were  also  taken,  and  their  kings 
lulled.  Of  the  situation  of  Madon,  nothing  certain  is  knowru 
Chimron  lay  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  west  of  the  sea  cf  Ga- 
lilee or  Gennesareth.  Achshaph  was  in  the  south  of  the 
tribe  of  Asher. 

16.  City  and  Sea  of  Cliinneroth. 

We  read  (Josh.  xi.  2.)  that  besides  the  kings  we  have  just 
mentioned,  Jabin  also  sent  to  the  kings  of  the  plains  soutli  of 
Chinneroth,  and  in  the  valley,  and  in  the  borders  of  Dor,  on 
the  west.  Chinneroth  was  an  ancient  city  on  the  sea  of  Ga- 
lilee, which  is  hence  sometimes  called  the  Sea  of  Chinneroth. 
It  is  generally  thought  that  Chinneroth  was  the  city  after- 
wards enlarged  and  ornamented  by  Herod,  who  gave  it  the 
name  of  Tiberias,  from  which  this  sea  is  also  called  the  Sea 
of  Tiberias. 

17.  City  of  Dor. 

Dor  was  situated  on  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean,  a  little 
to  the  north  of  Cssarea :  it  was  a  considerable  place,  and 
gave  name  to  the  country  round  about.  The  city  was  strong, 
and  difficult  to  attack,  being  built  upon  a  peninsula  which 
projected  into  the  sea.  This  city  was  given  to  the  haif  tribe 
of  Manasseh,  but  they  suffered  the  Canaanites  to  retam  it. 
Jerom  says  it  is  nine  miles  from  Ceesarea,  and  in  his  day  Vv^aa 
desolate  and  uninhabited.  The  modern  name  of  Dor  is  Tar- 
toura.  It  consists  of  a  single  street  opposite  the  sea,  and  ia 
resorted  to  by  the  Arabs  and  peasants,  who  barter  their  plun- 
der and  commodities  for  rice  and  linens  brought  from  Egypt 
in  small  vessels,  the  port  being  shallow,  and  not  admitting 
large  ships.  The  only  water  in  the  place,  fit  to  drink,  is  oh- 
tained  from  a  fountain  which  issues  from  a  rock  ten  or  twelve 
feet  in  the  sea,  which,  Vvdien  the  waters  are  high,  is  completely 
covered  with  the  waves. 

18.  Land  of  Mizpeh,  and  Misrepliotli-mahn. 

Jabin  also  sent  to  the  Hivite  under  Hermon,  in  the  Land 
of  Mizpeh,  (Josh.  xi.  3.) ;  and  the  Israelites  chased  theii 
enemies  unto  Great  Zidon,  and  Misrephoth-maim,  and  unto 
the  valley  of  Mizpeh,  eastward,  (verse  8.)  The  Land  of  Miz- 
peh here  mentioned,  is  the  tract  about  Mount  Gilead,  other- 
wise called  Mizpeh  (Gen.  xxxi.  49.):  So  the  valley  of  Miz- 
peh must  denote  some  valley  about  Mount  Gilead,  which  fre- 
quently denotes  not  only  the  mountain  of  that  name,  but  siso 
the  adjacent  country  as  far  as  Mount  Hermon,  which,  to- 


60  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 

g-ether  with  Mount  Halek  and  Seir,  are  only  branches  of 
Mount  Lebanon, 

Misrephoth-maim  is  understood  to  have  been  near  Zidon. 

In  the  twelfth  chapter  of  Joshua,  a  summary  is  given  of  the 
one  and  thirty  king-s  slain  by  the  Israelites.  We  shall  now 
proceed  to  notice  those  of  their  cities  which  have  not  been 
already  mentioned. 

19.  Jarmuth,  Geder,  Hormah,  and  Arad. 

Jarmuth  was  one  of  the  cities  given  afterwards  to  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  and  lay  not  far  south-west  from  Jerusalem. 

Geder  was  probably  either  Gederah  or  Gederoth,  near  Jar- 
muth ;  but  which  of  these  cannot  be  determined. 

Hormah  lay  in  the  south-west  of  Canaan,  in  the  tribe  of 
Simeon ;  and  is  probably  the  place  mentioned  in  the  journeys 
of  the  Israelites  from  Egypt,  and  near  which  they  were  de- 
feated by  the  Amalekites.  (iSfumb.  xiv.  45.) 

Arad  was  in  the  south  of  Judah.  King  Arad  is  mentioned 
in  Numb.  xxi.  1.  and  xxxiii.  40. ;  and  we  also  read  (Judges  i 
16.)  of  the  wilderness  of  Judah,  in  the  south  of  Arad. 

20.  Adullam,  Tappuah,  Ilepher,  and  Aphek. 

Adullam  was  in  tlie  tribe  of  Judah,  south-west  from  Jeru- 
salem, remarkable  for  a  cave  near  it  into  which  David  retired, 
when  he  withdrew  from  Achish,  king  of  Gath.  (1  Sam.  xxii.  1.) 

There  seem  to  have  been  two  places  named  Tappuah ;  one 
in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  another  on  the  border  of  Manasseh, 
but  belonging  to  Ephraim.  It  is  not  known  which  of  these 
it  was  whose  king  was  slain  by  Joshua. 

Heplier  appears  to  be  nowliere  else  mentioned  in  Scripture. 

Aphek  was  in  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  30.)  but  as 
there  were  other  places  of  this  name,  particularly  one  in  Ju- 
dah, sometimes  called  Aphekah,  it  is  uncertain  which  is  re- 
ferred to  in  the  present  instance. 

21.  LasJuiron,  Taanach,  and  Megiddo. 

The  situation  of  Lasharon  is  not  known.  Some  suppose  it 
to  be  the  country  of  Sharon  in  the  west  of  Ephraim,  between 
CiEsarea  and  Joppa. 

Taanach  is  more  than  once  mentioned  in  Scripture.  It  was 
a  city  of  the  Levitcs,  and  lay  in  the  west  of  Issacharor  Man- 
asseh, north-west  from  Samaria. 

Near  this  was  Megiddo,  also  lying  on  the  west  of  Issachar, 
but  belonging  to  Manasseh  :  the  Canaanites  continued  to  dwell 
in  it,  being  tributary.  (Josh.  xvii.  11-13.)  This  city  was 
rebuilt  by  Solomon,  (1  Kmgs  ix.  15.)  and  is  further  remarka- 


CONQrEST  OF  CANAAN.  61 

ble  for  the  death  of  iVhaziah  and  Josiah,  kings  of  Judah.  It 
was  situated  about  44  miles  north  of  Jerusalem,  near  the 
great  plain  of  Esdraelon,  and  has  been  the  scene  of  many  bat- 
tles besides  that  in  which  Barak  overcame  the  army  of  Jabin. 
(Judg-es  V.  19.)  Pharaoh  and  Josiah,  Gideon  and  the  Midian- 
ites,  Saul  and  the  Philistines,  Judas  Maccabeus  and  Tryphon, 
all  fought  here:  and  in  later  ages  there  were  also  in  this 
place  bloody  combats  between  the  Tartars  and  Saracens.  It 
is  called  by  ancient  geogi-aphers,  the  capacious  field  of  hat- 
ties.^  The  waters  of  Megiddo,  (Judges  v.  19.)  probably  mean 
the  southern  branches  of  the  river  Kishon,  which  flows  north- 
westward to  the  Mediterranean. 

22.  Kedesh  and  Johieam. 

There  were  two  places  called  Kedesh ;  one  in  the  tribe  of 
Naphtali,  (Josh.  xix.  37.)  called  Kedesh  Naphtali,  which  was 
probably  the  one  whose  king  was  killed  by  Joshua.  The 
other  was  in  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  23.)  and  appears  to  have  been 
a  place  of  not  much  consequence.  Kedesh  Naphtali  w'as  the 
native  place  of  Barak  :  it  was  one  of  the.  Levitical  cities,  and 
also  a  city  of  refuge.  (Josh.  xxi.  32.) 

Jokneam  was  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  also  a  city  of 
the  Levites.  It  was  near  Mount  Carmel,  and  hence  is  called 
Jokneam  of  Carmel. 

23.  Tirzah. 

This  was  a  city  of  Ephraim,  frequently  mentioned  in  Scrip- 
ture, being  for  some  time  the  royal  city  of  the  kingdom  of 
Israel;  that  is,  from  the  time  of  Jeroboam  to  the  reign  of 
Omri,  who,  having  reigned  six  years  in  Tirzah,  built  Sama- 
ria, and  removed  the  seat  of  government  thither,  where  it 
continued  until  the  dowmfall  of  the  kingdom.  It  seems  to 
have  been  a  very  beautiful  and  pleasant  city,  (Song  vi.  4.)  for 
which  reason  it  was  probably  chosen  as  the  royal  residence. 

24.  The  Nations  of  Gilgal. 

The  king  of  the  nations  of  Gilgal  was  also  among  those 
enumerated  as  having  been  slain  by  the  Israelites,  and  with 
him  we  close  our  account  of  the  places  belonging  to  the  one 
and  thirty  kmgs.  Nothing  certain  is  known  of  the  nations  of 
Gilgal,  but  it  is  generally  supposed  that  their  country  extend- 
ed along  the  Jordan  as  far  north  as  the  sea  of  Galilee. 

2.5.  Shiloh. 

In  this  place  was  the  tabernacle  of  the  congregation  set 

*  Campum  -prceliorem  capacem.    Cellarius,  Geog.  Antiq. 

F 


63  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

Up,  (Josh,  xviii.  1.)  within  which  the  ark  was  kept ;  and  here 
it  remained  more  than  three  hundred  years,  until  taken  by  the 
Philistines  in  the  time  of  the  high- priest  Eli.  Shiloh  was 
situated  in  the  south  part  of  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  ten  or 
twelve  miles  south  from  Shechem.  To  this  place  was  proba- 
bly also  removed  the  camp  of  the  seven  tribes  wlio  had  not 
yet  received  their  inheritance,  namely,  Benjamin,  Simeon, 
Zebulon,  Issachar,  Asher,  Naphtali,  and  Dan ;  for  we  do  not 
read  of  the  division  of  the  country  among  them  till  after  the 
removal  from  Gilgal  to  Shiloh.  (Josh,  xviii.)  The  other  tribes 
had  been  before  provided  for. 

26.    Timnath-serah,  and  Gaasli. 

Timnath-serah  was  the  inheritance  of  Joshua,  given  him 
at  his  own  request,  (Josh.  xix.  50.)  and  here  he  died  and  was 
buried.  It  was  in  the  south  of  Ephraim,  near  Sliiloh ;  and 
was  otherwise  called  Timnath-heres.  (Judges  ii.  9.)  Here 
the  sepulchre  of  Joshua  was  shown  in  the  days  of  Eusebius 
and  Jerom. 

It  is  not  certain  what  is  meant  by  the  expression  "  on  the 
north  side  of  the  hill  of  Gaash."  (Josh.  xxiv.  30.)  It  may 
mean  that  the  city  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  the  hill,  or 
that  it  was  northward  from  the  hill ;  or  that  Joshua  was  buried 
on  the  north  part  of  the  hill,  or  northward  of  it. 

Having  thus  given  an  account  of  the  principal  places  men- 
tioned in  the  Scripture  history  of  the  Conquest  of  Canaan  by 
the  Israelites,  we  shall  now  proceed  to  treat  of  the  division  of 
the  country  among  the  tribes. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

DIVISION  OF  CANAAN  AMONG  THE  TRIBES  OF  ISRAEL. 

The  Israelites,  so  called  from  being  descendants  of  Jacob, 
or  Israel,  were  distinguished  into  twelve  tribes,  according  to 
the  number  of  the  sons  of  Israel,  who  were  called  the  twelve 
patriarchs,  as  being  heads  of  these  tribes. 

The  names  of  these  twelve  patriarchs,  according  to  the 
order  of  their  birth,  were  Reuben,  Simeon,  Levi,  Judah,  Dan, 
Naphtali,  Gad,  Asher,  Issachar,  Zebulon,  Joseph,  and  Ben- 
jamin. 

Of  these  tribes  God  chose  tliat  of  Levi  to  minister  about 
holy  things,  to  wait  at  his  altar,  and  to  serve  in  his  worship 


DIVISION  OF   CANAAN.  63 

generally;  lie  therefore  ordained  that  they  should  live  and 
be  maintained  with  the  things  of  the  temple,  partaking  with 
the  altar,  and  so  be  free  from  the  common  cares  and  concerns 
of  life.  Therefore,  in  the  partition  of  the  land,  not  one  of 
the  twelve  parts  into  which  it  was  divided,  was  given  to  the 
tribe  of  Levi,  as  an  inlieritance ;  for  their  inheritance  was  the 
priesthood  of  the  Lord.  However,  certain  cities  were  as- 
signed them  as  habitations  to  dwell  in,  from  which  they  are 
called  Levitical  cities.  But  the  two  branches  of  Joseph,  viz. 
Ephraim  and  Manasseh,  having  two  distinct  allotments, 
made  up  the  number  of  twelve  geographical  divisions  to  be 
distributed  among  the  tribes. 

These,  according  to  their  geographical  order  or  situation, 
beginning  at  the  south  of  Canaan,  may  be  reckoned  thus: 
Judah,  Simeon,  Dan,  Benjamin,  Ephraim,  Manasseh,  (one 
half  of  it,)  Issachar,  Zebulon,  Asher,  Naphtali.  These  were 
all  west  t)f  Jordan.  On  the  east  of  that  river  were  the  por- 
tions of  Gad  and  Reuben,  with  the  other  part  of  Manasseh. 

1.    The  Tribe  of  Judah. 

Judah  was  the  most  considerable  tribe  of  Israel,  on  several 
accounts;  and  in  the  division  of  the  conquered  country  regard 
was  primarily  had  to  this  tribe,  and  its  lot  is  first  noticed  in 
Josh.  XV.  where  we  are  told  that  it  is  next  to  the  border  of 
Edom,  which  was  the  southern  boundary  of  Canaan. 

Li  the  same  chapter  we  have  the  bounds  of  this  tribe  laid 
down,  in  substance  as  follows :  The  south  border  was  from  the 
shore  of  that  bay  of  the  Salt  Sea  which  looketh  southward, 
i.  e.  from  the  south  part  of  the  Dead  Sea,  where  it  begins  to 
be  narrowed  to  a  bay ;  hence  westward,  passmg  along  to  Zin ; 
thence  up  on  the  south  side  to  Kadesh  Barnea,  and  so  coming 
out  to  the  river  of  Egypt,  and  then  going  out,  i.  e.  termi- 
nating at  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

The  eastern  border  was  the  Salt  Sea,  in  its  whole  length 
from  south  to  north,  even  to  the  end  of  Jordan,  i.  e.  the  mouth 
of  that  river  vv'here  it  empties  into  the  Dead  Sea  at  the  north- 
ern extremity. 

The  north  border  was  from  the  bay  of  the  Salt  Sea,  at  the 
mouth  of  Jordan ;  westv/ard  by  the  Valley  of  Achor  to  Enro- 
gel,  and  so,  by  the  valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom  to  the  south 
side  of  the  Jebusite  or  Jerusalem ;  thence  to  the  top  of  the 
mountain  west  of  the  Valley  of  Hinnom,  which  is  at  the  end 
of  the  Valley  of  Giants  northv/ard.  Thence  the  border  was 
drawn  to  Kirjath-jearim,  and  so  passed  along  to  the  side  of 


64  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

Mount  Jearim  on  the  north  side,  going-  hence  down  to  Beth- 
shemesh,  passing  on  to  Zimnah ;  and  so  to  the  side  of  Ekron, 
northward ;  going-  out,  or  terminating  at  the  sea. 

Its  western  border  was  tlie  great,  or  Mediterranean  Sea. 

These  boundaries,  however,  comprehend  the  tribes  of 
Simeon  and  Dan,  who  afterwards  had  their  inheritance  in  the 
portion  first  allotted  to  Judah,  which  was  found  to  bo  too  large. 
(Josh.  xix.  9.)  Judah  was  therefore  properly  bounded  on  the 
south  by  Edom  and  tlie  wilderness ;  on  the  east  by  the  Dead 
Sea ;  on  the  north  by  the  tribe  of  Benjamin ;  and  on  the  west 
by  Simeon  and  Dan. 

2.   Tribe  of  Siineon. 

The  lot  of  Simeon  was  cast  within  the  inheritance  of  Ju- 
dah, (Josli.  xix.  1-9.)  which  was  found  to  be  too  much  for 
them.  Accordingly,  the  same  cities  which  we  find  at  first 
allotted  to  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  26-32.)  are  afterwards 
mentioned  as  assigned  to  Simeon,  (xix.  2-8.)  Now  as  these 
cities  are  mentioned  as  being  some  of  "  the  uttermost  cities 
of  the  tribe  of  the  children  of  Judah,  towards  the  coast  of 
Edom  southward,"  so  the  tribe  of  Simeon  must  have  been  in 
the  south,  or  south-west  of  Judah. 

The  land  of  the  tribe  of  Simeon  was  therefore  bounded 
south  by  the  southern  limit  of  Canaan ;  east  by  Judah ;  north 
by  Dan ;  and  west  by  the  Mediterranean ;  lying  in  the  south- 
western corner  of  the  Land  of  Canaan. 

a   Tribe  of  Dan. 

The  inheritance  of  Dan  was  also  within  the  portion  first 
allotted  to  Judah ;  as  appears  by  comparing  Josh.  xv.  33.  &c. 
with  xix.  41.  &c.  where  we  find  cities  mentioned  first  given 
to  Judah  and  afterwards  to  Dan.  The  situation  of  this  tribe 
has  been  generally  agreed  to  have  been  in  the  north-west  of 
the  original  portion  of  Judah,  adjoining  Ephraim  on  the  north, 
and  Benjamin  on  the  east ;  though  some  writers  think  the 
north  part  of  Judah  extended  up  between  Dan  and  Benjamin. 

Thus  the  boundaries  of  Dan  were  Simeon  on  the  south ; 
Judah  and  Benjamin  on  the  cast;  Ephraim  on  the  north ;  and 
the  Great  Sea  on  the  west. 

4.   Tribe  of  Benjamin. 

By  comparing  Josh,  xviii.  15-19.  with  xv.  5-9.  it  appears 
that  the  north  border  of  Judah  was  the  same  as  the  south  bor- 
der of  Benjamin ;  hence  they  must  have  been  adjoining  each 
other,  Judah  lying  to  the  south  and  Benjamin  nortli.  The 
eastern  border  was  the  Jordan,  (Josh,  xviii.  20.)  the  northern 


DIVISION   OF   CANAAN.  (j^ 

and  western  border  was  from  Jordan,  on  the  north  of  Jericho, 
through  the  mountains  westward,  to  the  wilderness  of  Beth- 
aven ;  from  thence  over  towards  Bethel,  and  by  the  side  of  the 
hill  on  the  south  of  nether  Beth-horon,  terminating  near  Kir- 
jath-jearim. 

The  tribe  of  Benjamin  was  therefore  bounded  south  by  Ju- 
dah ;  east  by  the  river  Jordan ;  north  by  Ephraim,  and  west 
by  Judah  or  Dan. 

Some  geographers  Jfeve  made  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  extend 
westward  as  far  as  the  Mediterranean,  on  the  ground  that  the 
Hebrew  expression,  in  the  fourteenth  verse  of  chap,  xviii.  lit- 
erally translated,  means  that  the  west  border  compassed  the 
corner  of  the  sea  southward.  It  is,  however,  evident,  from 
other  passages  of  Scripture,  that  the  tribe  of  Benjamin  did  not 
extend  to  the  sea  on  the  west.  In  verse  12  the  same  word  is 
rendered  the  west,  and  so  perhaps  it  would  have  been  better 
in  the  fourteenth,  meaning  the  side  towards  the  sea,  i.  e.  the 
western  side,  towards  the  Mediterranean.  By  the  expression; 
compassed  the  corner  of  the  west,  is  to  be  understood  that  the 
western  boundary  there  made  an  angle  or  corner. 

5.  Tribe  of  Ephraim. 

The  lot  of  the  children  of  Joseph,  Ephraim,  and  Manasseh, 
was  north  of  Benjamin;  for  v/e  read  (Josh,  xviii.  11.)  that  the 
coast  of  the  lot  of  Benjamin  came  forth  between  the  children 
of  Judah  and  the  children  of  Joseph.  It  has  been  already 
shown  that  Judah  lay  south  of  Benjamin ;  it  must  tlierefore 
follow  that  the  children  of  Joseph  lay  north.  With  regard  to 
the  eastern  and  western  boundaries  of  Ephraim  and  Manasseh, 
it  is  manifest  from  Josh.  xvi.  1-3.  that  they  extended  from  the 
Jordan  to  the  Mediterranean.  By  comparing  chap.  xvi.  1-7. 
with  xvii.  11.  it  appears  that  the  inheritance  of  the  children 
of  Joseph  had  Benjamin  on  the  south,  and  Asher  and  Issa- 
char  on  the  north.  It  also  seems  (xvi.  5-7.)  that  Ephraim  was 
adjoining  Benjamin;  consequently,  Manasseh  was  north  of 
Ephraim. 

Ephraim  was  therefore  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  Jordan ; 
on  the  south  by  Judah  and  Dan  ;  on  the  west  by  the  Mediter- 
ranean, and  north  by  his  brother  Manasseh. 

6.  Half  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  west  of  Jordan. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  the  possessions  of  Manasseh 
on  the  west  of  Jordan,  lay  north  of  Ephraim ;  but  the  particu- 
lar boundary  between  them  is  obscure  and  not  easily  traced. 

From  this  situation  of  the  portion  of  Manasseh  west  of  Jor- 

r2 


66  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 

dan,  its  boundaries  were  Ephraim  on  the  south ;  the  Mediter- 
ranean on  the  west ;  Issachar  on  the  north,  and  the  Jordan  on 
the  east. 

7.  The  Tribe  of  Issachar. 

The  boundaries  of  Issachar,  particularly  to  the  westward, 
are  rather  obscure.  The  border  "  went  by  Jezreel,  and  Mount 
Tabor,  and  its  outgomgs  were  at  Jordan."  (Josh.  xix.  17-22.) 
By  some  writers  this  tribe  has  been  supposed  to  extend  quite 
to  the  Mediterranean.  But  if  the  lots. of  Ephraim  and  Man- 
asseh  "  met  together  in  Asher  on  the  north,  and  in  Issachar 
on  the  east,"  (Josh,  xvii,  10.)  it  is  difficult  to  understand  how 
Issachar  could  extend  westward  to  the  sea. 

The  general  boundaries  of  Issachar  were  Zebulon  on  the 
north ;  the  Jordan  on  the  east ;  Manasseh  on  the  south ;  and 
possibly  the  Mediterranean  on  the  west. 

8.  Tribe  of  Zebulon. 

It  is  agreed  by  geographers  tliat  Zebulon  lay  north  of  Issa- 
char; but  the  same  difficulty  occurs  with  regard  to  the  west- 
ern limits,  as  in  Issachar.  ^ome  make  it  extend  to  the  sea ; 
others  think  it  could  not,  if  Manasseh  joined  Asher.  Accord- 
ing to  Josephus,  the  tribes  of  Asher,  Zebulon,  and  Manasseh, 
all  came  up  near  Mount  Carmel. 

Thus  Zebulon  appears  to  have  been  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Asher  and  A^aphtali ;  east  by  the  Sea  of  Galilee ;  south  by 
Issachar,  and  west  by  the  Mediterranean,  or  partly  by  Asher. 

9.  Tribe  of  Asher. 

The  length  of  the  portion  assigned  to  Asher  is  clearly  de- 
scribed in  Scripture ;  as  it  is  said  that  it  extended  to  Mount 
Carmel  and  to  Great  Zidon ;  the  former  being  to  the  south, 
and  the  latter  to  the  north.  This  was  a  maritime  country, 
from  what  we  read  in  the  song  of  Deborah,  (Judges  v.  17.) 
"  Asher  continued  on  the  sea-shore,  and  abode  in  his  creeks." 
Within  this  tribe  was  situated  the  great  commercial  city  Tyre, 
called  by  the  Hebrews  Tzor,  or  Zor ;  also  x\ccho,  called  by 
the  Greeks  Ptolemais,  once  a  celebrated  port,  now  called  Acra 
or  Acre. 

Asher  was  bounded  north  and  north-east  by  the  extreme 
limits  of  the  Land  of  Caanan  towards  Syria ;  east  by  Nephtali ; 
south  by  Zebulon,  or  perhaps  Manasseh  or  Issachar ;  and  west 
by  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 

10.  Tribe  of  Naphtali. 

The  situation  of  Naphtali  is  clearly  described,  (Josh.  xix. 
33,  34.)  lying  between  Asher  and  the  Jordan,  from  Mount 


DIVISION   OF   CANAAN.  67 

Lebanon  north,  to  Zebulon  south.  It  probably  also  extended 
to  the  sea  of  Cinneroth  or  Galilee,  as  the  city  of  Chinneroth 
belonged  to  Naphtali.  The  place  mentioned  in  v.  34,  called 
Judah  upon  Jordan,  certainly  could  not  mean  the  portion  of 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  but  probably  some  place  so  called  upon  the 
river  Jordan,  above  the  sea  of  Galilee.  The  LXX.  transla- 
tors make  no  mention  of  the  word  Judah  in  this  place,  but 
only  the  Jordan,  which  they  make  the  eastern  border. 

The  boundaries  of  Naphtali  therefore  were,  on  the  nortli, 
the  mountains  which  separated  Canaan  from  Syria ;  on  the 
east,  the  river  Jordan ;  on  the  south,  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  and 
the  sea  of  Cinneroth,  and  the  tribe  of  Asher  on  the  west. 

11.  Tribe  of  Reuben. 

The  tribes  of  Reuben  and  Gad,  with  half  the  tribe  of  Man- 
asseh,  had  their  inheritance  on  the  east  of  Jordan,  in  the 
country  conquered  from  the  kmgs  Sihon  and  Og-. 

To  Reuben  was  allotted  the  southern  part  of  this  country; 
consequently  this  tribe  was  bounded,  east  and  south,  by  the 
river  Arnon,  which  separated  it  from  Amnion  and  Moab ;  west 
by  the  river  Jordan ;  and  north  and  north-east  by  the  tribe  of 
Gad. 

12.  The  tribe  of  Gad. 

The  portion  of  Gad  lay  north  of  Reuben,  and  was  bounded 
west  by  the  Jordan ;  north  by  Manasseh ;  east  by  the  Ammo- 
nites ;  and  south  by  Reuben. 

13.  Half  the  Tribe  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan. 

This  half  tribe  had  for  its  boundaries,  on  the  west,  the  sea 
of  Cinneroth.  or  Galilee,  and  the  Jordan  above  that  sea,  com- 
monly called  Upper  Jordan  or  Lesser  Jordan ;  on  the  north, 
that  branch  of  Lebanon  called  Mount  Hermon  ;  on  the  east, 
a  continuation  of  the  same  mountains,  or  Mount  Gilead ;  and 
on  the  south  and  south-west,  the  tribe  of  Gad. 

In  concluding-  our  account  of  the  situation  and  boundaries 
of  the  twelve  tribes,  v/e  would  remark  that  the  Scripture  ac- 
count of  their  limits  and  borders  contains  many  names  of 
places  scarcely  noticed  anywhere  else  in  the  sacred  volume, 
and  the  situations  of  which  are  now  very  uncertam.  These 
we  have  omitted,  as  being  of  little  use  to  the  understanding 
of  the  subject,  and  only  tendmg  to  confuse  and  perplex  the 
reader. 

14.  Cities  assigned  to  the  Levites. 

It  has  been  before  observed  that  in  the  partition  of  the  land 
of  Canaan,  the  Levites  had  no  portion  assigned  them  among 


68  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 

the  rest  of  the  Israelites ;  for  their  inheritance  was  the  priest- 
hood of  the  Lord.  Certain  cities  were,  however ,  set  apart 
for  them  to  dwell  in,  which  from  tliis  circumstance  have  been 
generally  called  Levitical  cities.  Of  these  a  particular 
account  is  given  in  Josh.  xxi. 

There  Vv^ere  three  branches  of  the  Levites,  descendants  of 
the  three  sons  of  Levi ;  Gershon,  Kohath,  and  Merari.  Aaron, 
the  high-priest,  was  of  the  family  of  Kohath.  To  each  of 
these  branches  of  the  Levites,  their  cities  were  assigned  by 
lot,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Land  of  Canaan  was  divided 
among  the  other  tribes.  The  whole  number  of  Levitical 
cities  was  forty-eight.  Josh.  xxi.  4-7. 

15.  The  Sacerdotal  Cities. 

The  thirteen  Levitical  cities  which  Vv^ere  assigned  to  the 
children  of  Aaron,  tlie  priests,  are  called  by  some  writers 
sacerdotal,  or  priests'  cities.  For  though  Aaron  and  his  chil- 
dren, the  priests,  were  Levites;  yet  all  the  Levites  were  not 
priests :  the  priesthood  appertaining  particularly  to  the  chil- 
dren of  Aaron. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  lots  of  these  thirteen  sacerdotal 
cities  all  fell  within  the  tribes  of  Judah,  Simeon,  and  Benja- 
min :  so  that  they  were  not  only  in  the  tribec  nearest  to  Jeru- 
salem, but  were  so  situated,  that  on  the  revolt  of  the  ten 
tribes,  they  remained  subject  to  the  house  of  David,  as  did 
also  Jerusalem,  the  place  of  God's  more  especial  worsliip. 
These  lots  were  so  ordered  by  divine  providence,  that  twelve 
of  the  thirteen  cities  fell  within  the  tribes  of  Judah  and  Ben- 
jamin, and  the  thirteenth,  Ain,  (Josh.  xxi.  16.)  or  Ashan,  (1 
Chron.  vi.  60.)  was  so  near  the  border  of  Simeon,  as  to  be 
sometimes  called  a  city  of  Judah.  1  Chron.  vi.  57-60.  So 
that  it  is  probable  that  this,  among  several  other  places  on  the 
border  of  that  tribe,  still  remained  subject  to  the  king  of 
Judah. 

16.  The  Cities  of  Refuge. 

These  cities  were  designed  as  an  asylum  for  those  who 
might  accidentally  kill  a  person,  "  that  the  slayer  might  flee 
thither  for  refuge  from  the  avenger  of  blood."  Josh.  xx.  2. 
These  cities  of  refuge  were  six  ;  namely  :  Kedesh,  in  Galilee, 
in  mount  Naphtali ;  Shechem,  in  mount  Ephraim  ;  Hebron,  in 
the  mountains  of  Judah  ;  Bezor,  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben  ;  Ra- 
moth-Gilead,  in  the  tribe  of  Gad  ;  and  Golan,  in  the  tribe  of 
Manasseh.  The  three  former  lay  west  of  Jordan,  and  the 
tjiree  latter  east.     These  were  all  also  Levitical  cities. 


CONCLUSION   OF   PART   I.  69 

Conclusion  of  Part  I. 

Thus,  having"  given  a  view  of  the  first  habitation  of  man- 
kind on  the  earth ;  their  destruction  by  the  universal  deluge, 
except  the  favoured  remnant  preserved  in  the  ark ;  the  re- 
peopling  of  the  world  by  the  posterity  of  Noah,  in  their  seve- 
ral settlements ;  the  migrations  of  Abraham,  who  was  called 
by  God  to  be  the  progenitor  of  his  peculiar  people ;  and  of 
Jacob  the  father  of  the  twelve  tribes;  their  bondage  in  Egypt, 
and  their  going  out  therefrom  into  the  land  promised  by  God 
for  their  inheritance ;  with  their  conquest  of,  and  final  settle- 
ment in  it ;  we  shall  now  conclude  the  first  part  of  our  work. 

It  may,  perhaps,  appear  to  the  reader  as  though  some  places 
had  been  omitted,  and  that  others  have  been  but  slightly  no- 
ticed ;  for  these  he  is  referred  to  Part  II.  in  which  we  design 
to  give  an  alpiiabetical  account  of  all  the  places  of  any  im- 
portance mentioned  in  Scripture,  wath  such  geographical  de- 
scriptions and  sketches  of  their  history,  as  may  conduce  to  a 
proper  and  better  understanding  of  the  sacred  volume,  as  far 
as  these  circumstances  are  concerned. 


SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 


PART  II. 

A  Geographical  Dictionary  of  the  Bible :  containing,  in  al- 
phabetical order,  a  description  of  the  Countries,  Kingdoms, 
Nations,  Provinces,  Cities,  Tow7is,  Villages,  Mountains, 
Hills,  Rivers,  Lakes,  Seas,  Islands,  <^c.  mentioned  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures. 


Abana,  a  river  of  Damascus,  in  Syria.  2  Kings,  v.  12. 
This  river  rises  in  the  mountains  of  Hermon,  or  Anti-Libanus, 
on  the  north-east  of  Canaan,  flows  north-eastward  and  unites 
with  the  Pharpar :  it  passes  by  the  city  of  Damascus,  four  or 
five  leagues  beyond  which,  its  waters  are  lost  in  the  sands  of 
the  desert.  It  was  knov*'n  to  the  Greeks  and  Romans  by  the 
name  of  Chrysorrhoas,  but  it  is  at  present  called  Barrady. 

Abarim,  a  chain  of  mountains  east  of  the  Jordan,  between 
that  river  and  the  Arnon.  Numb,  xxxiii.  47.  See  Part  L 
p.  49. 

Abel-beth-maacah,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  in  the 
north  of  Canaan ;  taken  by  Benhadad,  king  of  Syria,  and 
afterwards  by  the  king  of  Assyria.  1  Kings,  xv.  20.  and  2 
Kings,  XV.  29. 

Abel-caf.maim,  or  keramin,  Abel  of  the  Vineyards,  a  place 
belonging  to  the  Ammonites,  so  named  from  the  abundance 
of  vines  in  the  neighbourhood.  Jud.  xi.  33. 

Abel-maim,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  near 
lake  JNIerom,  on  the  west.  2  Chron.  xvi.  4. 

Abel-meiiolaii,  a  city  of  Manasseh,  west  of  Jordan,  famous 
as  the  birth-place  of  Elisha,  tlie  prophet.  1  Kings,  xix.  16. 

Abel-mizraim,  i.  e.  the  mourning  of  the  Egyptians ;  a 
place  supposed  to  be  not  far  from  Hebron,  in  the  south  of  Ju- 
dea  ;  so  named  from  the  great  mourning  made  there  by  Joseph 
and  his  brethren,  with  the  prmcipal  persons  among  the  Egyp- 
tians, for  Jacob,  wliose  body  they  liad  brought  out  of  Egypt, 
that  it  might  be  buried  witli  his  fatliers.     The  Canaanites, 


ACC 


DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE. 


71 


Bupposing-  them  all  to  be  Eg5rptians,  accordingly  named  the 
place  Abel-mizraim.  Gen.  1. 

Abel-Shittim,  a  city  in  the  plains  of  Moab,  east  of  Jordan. 
Numb,  xxxiii.  49.    See  Part  I.  p.  53. 

Abez,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Issachar.  Josh, 
xix.  20. 

Abilene,  a  province  in  Ccelo-Syria,  on  the  north-east  of 
Canaan  or  Galilee,  lymg  west  from  Damascus.  Lysanias  was 
governor  of  this  province  in  the  fifteenth  year  of  Tiberius. 
Luke  iii.  1.  Its  capital  city  was  Abila,  or  Abilene,  respect- 
ing the  situation  of  which  geographers  differ.  We  think, 
however,  that  ancient  medals  of  this  place  decide,  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  Abila  was  on  the  river  Chrysorrhoas,  which  ran 
from  the  mountains  of  Anti-Libanus  eastwardly  towards  Da- 
mascus. 

No.  1,  is  a  medal 
of  Abila,  represent- 
ing on  one  side  the 
head  of  Faustina, 
wife  of  the  emperor 
iVIarcus  Aurelius  ; 
and  on  the  other  a 
bunch  of  grapes, 
with  the  Greek  in 
-'  scription,  LEUKrAEi- 
LA,  and  the  date  236.  This  proves  that  the  Greek  name,  Leucas,  is 
the  same  as  llie  Hebrew  Abila,  or  Abel,  since  both  appear  on  the 
same  medal.  The  grapes  may  possibly  refer  to  Abel-carmaim,  Abel  of 
the  vineyards. 

No.  2.  A  medal  of  the  Abi- 
lene of  Lysanias,  with  the 
image  of  the  river  Chrysor- 
rhoas,   and    the    inscription 

KRYSOROAS   KLAUDIAION   OH 

one  side,  and  on  the  other  the 
figure  of  Victory,  with  the 
inscription  leukadion:  prov- 
ing that  this  Leucadia  or 
Abilene  was  situated  on  the  river  Chrj'sorrhoas,  which  was  the  Abana 
of  Scripture.  It  is  likely  that  the  title  Klmidiaion  was  taken  in  ac- 
knowledgment of  favours  received  from  the  emperor  Claudius. 

AccAD,  ati  ancient  city  in  the  Land  of  Shinar,  built  by 
Nimrod.  Gen.  x.  10.  This  name  is  also  written  by  ancient 
authors,  Achad,  Archad,  and  Achar.  According  to  Jerom 
and  other  old  writers,  it  is  the  place  which  was  afterwards 
called  Nisibis  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans,   ^ee  Part  L  p.  14. 


72     .  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  ADA 

AccHO,  See  Ptolemais. 

AcHAiA.  A  province  in  Greece,  of  which  Gallio  was  de- 
puty in  the  time  of  the  apostle.  Acts  xviii.  12.  The  Romans 
divided  Greece  into  two  provinces ;  Macedonia  rnd  Achaia. 
Macedonia  included  Thessaly  and  Epirus ;  and  Achaia,  Greece 
Proper,  and  the  Peloponnessus.  But  Achaia,  properly  so 
called,  was  a  small  country  in  Greece,  lying-  along  the  gulf 
of  Corinth,  on  the  south ;  having  Sicyonia  on  the  east,  Arca- 
dia and  Elis  on  the  south,  and  the  Ionian  Sea  on  the  wTst.  Its 
capital  city  was  Patree,  Patara,  or  Patras. 

AcHMETiiA,  supposed  by  some  learned  men  to  be  the  city 
called  by  the  Greeks  Ecbatcma,  the  capital  of  Media.  In 
Ezra  vi.  2.  we  read  that  "  there  was  found  at  Acliinetha,  in  the 
palace,  that  is  in  the  province  of  the  Medes,  a  roll,"  &.c.  In 
the  Vulgate  Bible,  the  word  is  translated  Echutana  in  Media. 

But  several  interpreters  render  the  word  Achmetha,  a 
strong  box,  or  coffer,  which  lay  amongst  the  old  records  of 
Media,  in  which  v^'as  found  a  copy  of  the  edict  of  Cyrus,  per- 
mitting the  Jews  to  return  to  their  own  country.  See  Ecbaiana. 

AcHOR,  a  valley  near  Jericho.  Josh,  vii,  2G.  See  Part  I. 
p.  55. 

AcHSAPH,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Asher,  the  king 
of  which  was  conquered  by  Joshua.  Josh.  xii.  20. 

AcHZiB,  acity  of  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  29.)  thought 
to  be  the  same  which  the  Greeks  called  Ecdippa,  the  modern 
name  of  which  is  Zib.  It  was  near  the  Mediterranean,  be- 
tween Tyre  and  Accho  or  Ptolemais,  nine  miles  north  of  the 
latter.  In  the  time  of  Jerom,  about  four  hundred  years  after 
Christ,  this  place  was  a  small  village  called  Chasalus.  It  has 
been  thought  by  some  that  Achzib  and  Achsaph  are  but  dif- 
ferent names  for  the  same  town. 

In  the  tribe  of  Judah  was  also  another  place  called  Achzib. 
Josh.  XV.  44. 

AcRAEATENE,  a  district  of  Judea,  extending  between  She- 
chem  and  Jericho,  about  twelve  miles  in  length,  frequently 
mentioned  by  Josephus.  There  seems  also  to  have  been  an- 
other district  of  this  name  in  the  south  of  Judea,  on  the  bor- 
ders of  Idamea  or  Edom.  1  Mace.  v.  3. 

Ad  ADAH,  a  city  of  tlie  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  22. 

Adad-riaimox,  or  Hadad-rimmon,  a  place  in  the  valley  of 
Jezreel  or  Megiddo,  where  king  Josiali  was  killed  by  Pha- 
raoh-necho,  king  of  Egypt.  It  was  situated  about  ten  miles 
north-west  from  Jezreel.  2  Kings  xxiii.  29. 


ADR 


DICTIONARY  OF   THE   BIBLE. 


rs 


Adam,  or  Adom,  a  city  on  the  east  of  Jordan,  over-against 
Jericho ;  the  place  where  the  waters  of  the  Jordan  parted  to 
allow  a  passag-e  for  the  Israelites  across  the  river  on  dry 
ground.  Josh.  iii.  16. 

Adamah,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali.  Josh.  xix.  36. 

Adasa,  (1  Mace.  vii.  40.)  said  by  Jerom  to  be  a  town  in 
the  tribe  of  Ephraim. 

AniTHAiM,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Judah.  .Tosh.  xv.  36. 

Admah,  one  of  the  five  cities  whicli,  for  their  wickedness, 
were  destroyed  by  fire  from  heaven,  and  buried  under  the 
waters  of  the  Dead  Sea.    »S'ee  Part  I.  p.  31. 

x'^DORAiM,  a  city  of  Judah,  fortified  by  Rehoboam.  2  Chron. 
xi.  9. 

Adramyttium,  a  sea-port  town  of  Mysia,  in  Asia  Mmor, 
lying-  opposite  the  island  of  Lesbos  or  Ivlitylene.  According 
to  Aristotle,  it  was  named  from  Adramyttus,  son  of  Alyattesi 
king-  of  Lydia,  and  brother  of  Croesus,  who  built  it. 

It  is  probable  that  the  ship  of  Adramyttium,  into  which 
St.  Paul  entered  at  Csesarea,  (Acts  xxvii.  2.)  was  one  which 
was  returning-  home  to  its  own  port,  and  so  coasted  along  the 
shores  of  Asia  Minor. 


No.  1.  is  a  medal  of 
Adramyttium,  showing 
that  Castor  and  Pollux, 
the  deities  of  mariners, 
(Acts  xxviii.  11.)  wer 
reverenced  in  this  city  : 
the  coniucopise,  be- 
tween the  two  stare, 
refers  to  the  goddess 
Fortune,  also  a  mari- 
time deity. 


On  No.  2.  are 
the  figures  of 
Minerva  and 
Jupiter,  which 
show  that  these 
divinities  were 
also  worship- 
ped here. 


/4  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  AIN 

Adria,  a  name  anciently  given  to  that  part  of  tlie  Medi- 
terranean Sea  adjacent  to  Sicily,  and  south-east  of  Italy.  Ac- 
cording to  Ptolemy,  it  extended  from  Sicily  to  Crete ;  and 
Strabo  says  that  the  Ionian  gulf  is  a  part  of  what  was  then 
called  the  Adriatic  Sea.  Some  have  inquired  how  a  ship 
could  be  tossed  up  and  down  in  the  Adriatic,  and  driven  on 
the  coast  of  Malta,  or  Melita.  (xVcts  xxvii.  27.  and  xxviii.  1.) 
This  indeed  could  not  be  the  case  with  regard  to  the  Adria- 
tic, in  its  modern  confined  extent ;  but  according  to  the  larger 
sense,  mentioned  above,  in  which  the  term  was  used  by  the 
ancients,  it  is  perfectly  clear  that  St.  Paul's  tempestuous  voy- 
age from  Crete  to  Malta,  was  in  that  part  of  the  Mediterra- 
nean then  called  the  Adriatic  Sea. 

Josephus  relates  that  on  his  voyage  from  Judea  to  Rome, 
he  was  shipwrecked  in  the  Adriatic  sea,  a.nd  after  being 
taken  up  by  a  ship  from  Cyrene,  v.'^as  carried  to  Puteoli.  From 
this  and  other  ancient  authorities,  there  can  be  no  question 
that  a  considerable  portion  of  the  JMediterranean  east  ol'Italy, 
was  anciently  called  th.e  Adriatic  sea. 

Adullam,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  .Tudah.  See  Part  I.  p.  38. 

Adummim,  a  town  or  mountain  in  the  border  of  the  tribe  of 
Benjamin.  (Josh.  xv.  7.  xviii.  17.)  It  was,notorious  for  being 
the  haunt  of  robbers  ;  and  being  on  the  road  from  Jerusalem 
to  Jericho,  is  supposed  to  be  the  place  where  the  traveller 
was  robbed,  who  was  afterwards  relieved  by  the  good  Samari- 
tan. Luke  X. 

Africa,  one  of  the  four  quarters  of  the  world ;  being  a  large 
peninsula,  joined  to  Asia  by  tlie  narrow  isthmus  of  Suez.  It 
is  bounded  by  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  which  separates  it 
from  Europe,  on  the  north  ;  by  the  isthmus  of  Suez  and  the 
Red  Sea,  which  separate  it  from  Asia,  on  tlie  north-east ;  by 
the  Indian  Ocean  on  the  east;  the  Southern  Ocean  on  the 
south  ;  and  the  Atlantic  on  the  west.  Only  the  northern  parts 
of  this  country,  including  Egypt,  and  the  adjacent  regions, 
are  mentioned  in  Scripture.  Africa  was  principally  peopled 
by  Ham  and  his  descendants,  as  we  have  more  particularly 
explained  in  the  foregoing  part  of  this  work. 

Ahava,  a  river  of  Babylon  or  Assyria,  where  Ezra  gathered 
the  captive  Jews  together,  whom  he  brought  with  him  into 
Judea.   Ezra,  viii.  15. 

Ai,  a  citv  in  Canaan  near  Jericho.  Josh.  vii.  and  viii.  See 
Part  I.  p.  55. 

AiN,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Jiidah,  given  afterwards  to  Si- 


ALE  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  75 

mecn.     It  was  also  one  of  the  Levitical  cities.   Josh,  xv.  32. 
xix  7.  XX i,  16. 

Ajalon,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  assigned  to  theLevites; 
situated  between  Timnath  and  Bethshemesh.  There  were 
three  other  cities  of  tliis  name :  one  in  Benjamin,  three  miles 
east  of  Bethel,  fortified  by  Rehoboam,  (2  Chron.  xi.  19.)  an- 
other in  Ephraim,  between  Shechem  and  Jerusalem,  which 
was  a  city  of  refuge,  and  anotlier  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  east 
of  Mount  Carmel. 

Akrabbim,  See  Acrabatene. 

Alammelech,  a  city  in  the  south-west  of  the  tribe  of  Asher. 
Josh.  xix.  26, 

Alema,  a  great  and  strong  city  m  tlie  country  of  Gilead, 
east  of  Jordan.    1  Mace.  v.  26. 

Alexandria,  a  famous  commercial  city  of  Egypt,  built  by 
Alexander  the  Great.  St.  Paul  sailed  in  ships  belonging  to 
this  port.  (Acts  xxvii.  6.  and  xxviii.  11.)  It  was  situated  on 
the  west  of  the  Delta,  between  lake  Moeris  and  the  Mediter- 
ranean, thirty-three  miles  south-west  from  Rosetta,  and  about 
one  hundred  north-westward  from  Cairo.  The  body  of  Alex- 
ander tlie  Great  was  carried  from  Babylon  and  deposited  here 
in  a  coffin  of  gold.  The  favourable  situation  of  this  city,  be- 
tween the  Mediterranean  and  the  Red  Sea,  and  on  the  waters 
of  the  Nile,  drew  to  it  the  commerce  of  the  east  and  the  west, 
and  soon  rendered  it  one  of  the  most  flourishmg  cities  in  the 
world.  The  spices  and  other  merchandise  of  India,  were 
brought  up  the  Red  Sea,  to  Egypt,  arid  so  passed  through 
Alexandria  to  the  Mediterranean.  But  after  the  discovery 
of  the  passage  to  India  by  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  around 
the  south  of  Africa,  its  trade  declined,  so  that  at  present  it  is 
little  more  than  a  village,  ha,ving  nothing  remarkable  but  the 
ruins  of  its  form.er  grandeur. 

After  the  death  of  Alexander,  it  was  the  royal  seat  of  the 
Ptolemies  for  two  hundred  years ;  and  wiien  Egypt  became  a 
Roman  province,  it  continued  to  be  the  metropolis  or  princi- 
pal city.  It  was  taken  from  the  Christians  about  the  middle 
of  the  seventJi  century  by  Amrou,  general  of  the  caliph  Omar, 
after  a  siege  of  fourteen  months,  in  which  he  lost  twenty- 
three  thousand  men.  At  this  time  the  famous  library  was 
destroyed,  in  which  successive  kings  liad  collected  more  than 
four  hundred  thousand,  or,  as  others  say,  seven  hundred  thou- 
Eand  manuscripts  or  volumes.  Among  the  ruins  of  this  city 
are  jet  standing  two  obelisks  of  considerable  height,  covered 


76  •CRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  AMA 

with  hieroglyphics :  and  Pompey's  pillar,  which  is  one  entire 
piece  of  granite,  forty  feet  high,  and  twenty-five  feet  in  cir- 
cumference. Part  of  the  ancient  Pharos,  or  watcii-tower,  is 
also  yet  standing,  and  is  now  a  castle,  useful  in  directing  ves- 
sels into  the  harbour.  Some  parts  of  the  ancient  walls  of  the 
city  yet  remain,  having  large  square  towers  two  hundred 
paces  apart :  the  gates  are  of  Thebaic  marble  and  granite. 
The  water  of  the  Nile  was  brought  to  the  city  by  a  canal 
during  the  inundation,  and  preserved  in  cisterns  for  use. 
Here  is  still  to  be  seen  the  church  of  St.  Mark,  in  which  it  is 
said  the  body  of  the  evangelist  was  deposited,  until  some 
Venetians  carried  it  to  Venice,  where  is  a  celebrated  church 
called  St.  Mark's. 

Alexandria  was  taken  by  the  French  in  1788,  but  was 
taken  from  them  by  the  English  in  1801,  and  restored  to  the 
Ottoman  government.  The  city  is  called  by  the  Turks  Scaii- 
deria  or  Iskanderia,  and  has  a  population  of  about  thirty 
thousand. 

Opposite  to  this  city  is  the  little  island  of  Pharos,  in  which 
the  LXX.  interpreters  are  said  to  have  translated  the  Hebrew 
Bible  into  Greek,  each  in  a  separate  cell  or  apartment.  This 
translation  is  called  the  Sepiuagint,  from  the  number  of  the 
translators. 

AoiONj  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Benjamin ;  (Josh.  xxi.  18.) 
thought  to  be  the  same  as  Alemelli,  given  to  the  priests  of 
Aaron's  family.  1  Chron.  vi.  60.    • 

Alush,  one  of  the  encampments  in  the  wilderness.  Part  I. 
p.  44. 

Amad,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Asher.  Josh.  xix.  26. 

Amalek.  There  appear  to  be  several  tribes  of  the  people 
called  Amalekites  mentioned  in  Scripture,  which,  in  a  geo- 
graphical view,  may  be  thus  arranged  : 

1.  Amalek,  the  ancient.  Gen.  xiv.  7.  where  the  phrase,  "  all 
the  cov.ntry  of  the  Amalekites"  implies  considerable  extent. 
This  people  probably  dwelt  near  the  Jordan.  Numb. 
xxiv.  20. 

2.  A  tribe  in  tlie  regions  east  of  Egypt,  between  it  and 
Canaan.  Exod.  xvii.  8.  1  Sam  xiv.  &c. 

3.  Tlie  descendants  of  Eliphaz,  son  of  Esau.  Gen.  xxxvi.  12. 
For  the  proper  understanding  of  Scripture  history,  the  dis- 
tinction between  these  should  be  observed. 

U  was  probably  to  the  first  of  these  that  Balaam  alluded, 


AMA  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  77 

(Numb.  xxiv.  20.)  as  having  been  "  head  of  the  peoples ;"  for 
the  descendants  of  Esau  could  hardly  have  been  meant, 
as  they  were  then  just  appearing-  as  a  tribe  or  family.  The 
Arab  writers  often  mention,  and  glory  in  their  descent  from 
Amalek,  and  distinguish  between  families  of  pure  Amalekite 
blood,  and  those  of  mixed  descent,  among  whom  they  mcludc 
those  descended  from  Ishmael. 

It  was  the  second  of  these  divisions  of  the  Amalekites, 
who  attacked  the  Israelites,  and  against  whom  Moses  and 
Joshua  fought,  (Exod.  xvii.  8-13.")  and  against  which  tribe 
perpetual  hostility  w'as  to  be  mamtained.  (verse  16.  and  1  Sam. 
XV.)  These  dwelt  near  the  borders  of  Egypt,  west  of  Edom, 
and  southw^ard  of  Canaan,  and  appear  to  have  been  a  fierce 
and  warlike  people. 

According  to  Moses,  (Gen.  xiv.  7.)  the  five  confederated 
kings  carried  the  war  into  the  country  of  Amalek,  about  Ka- 
desh,  in  the  time  of  Abraham,  long  before  the  birth  of  Amalek, 
the  grandson  of  Esau ;  which  proves  that  these  Amalekites 
could  not  have  been  his  posterity.  It  is  therefore  thought 
probable  that  the  Amalekites  so  often  mentioned  in  Scripture, 
were  a  people  descended  from  Canaan,  devoted  to  the  curse, 
as  well  as  the  others  of  his  race,  and  very  different  from  the 
descendants  of  Amalek,  the  grandson  of  Esau.  The  Arabian 
writers  maintain  Amalek  to  have  been  the  son  of  Ham,  and 
grandson  of  Noah  ;  they  also  say  that  he  was  the  father  of  an 
ancient  tribe  in  Arabia,  exterminated  in  the  reign  of  Saul ; 
in  the  latter  particular  agreeing  wdth  the  Scripture  account : 
This  tribe,  they  say,  contained  only  the  Arai3ians  who  are 
called  pure,  the  remains  of  which  were  mingled  wath  the 
posterity  of  Joknan  and  Adnan,  and  so  became  Mosarabes,  or 
mixed  x\rabians.  They  farther  believe  that  Goliah,  who  was 
Killed  by  David,  w-as  a  king  of  the  Amalekites,  and  that  the 
giants,  who  inliabited  the  Land  of  Canaan  in  the  time  of 
Joshua,  were  of  the  same  race  ;  and  finally,  that  part  of  the 
Amalekites,  while  Joshua  was  yet  living,  retired  into  Africa, 
and  settled  on  the  coast  of  Barbary.  This  agrees  with  in- 
scriptions said  to  have  been  found  in  Barbary,  importing  that 
the  people  who  wa*ote  them  fled  from  Canaan,  from  the  face 
of  Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun,  the  robber. 

The  Amalekites  of  the  Scripture  appear  to  have  been  a 
roving  people,  dwelling  sometimes  in  one  place,  and  some- 
times in  another :  it  does  not  appear  that  they  had  cities,  there 
G2 


78  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  AMM 

being-  but  one  mentioned  in  Scripture ;  and  they  probably 
lived  in  hamlets,  caves,  and  tents,  resembling,  in  their  wan- 
dering and  ferocious  character,  their  posterity,  the  modern 
Arabs. 

Aman,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh. 
XV.  26. 

Amana,  a  mountain  east  of  Jordan ;  some  say  the  same  as 
Mount  Hor ;  but  others  mention  a  mountain  of  that  name  in 
the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  not  far  from  Lake  Merom.  It  is 
not  certain  whether  the  mountain  called  Amana,  in  the  Song 
of  Solomon,  was  this  one,  or  anotlier  of  tlie  same  name  in 
Cilicia,  into  which  country  his  government  also  extended. 

Ammah,  a  hill  in  the  Land  of  Israel,  near  Hebron.  The 
name  signifies  the  hill  of  two  ways,  i.  e.  where  two  roads 
turned  off.  2  Sam.  ii.  24. 

Ammonites,  a  people  descended  from  Ammon,  the  son  of 
Lot.   *S'ee  Part  I.  p.  52. 

Ammon-no,  an  ancient  city  of  Egypt,  the  situation  of  which 
is  not  certain.  It  is  mentioned,  Jer.  xlvi.  25.  Ezek.  xxx.  15, 
16.  in  which  passages  the  LXX.  translators  render  it  Diospo- 
lis,  or  the  city  of  Jove.  Now,  there  was  a  city  of  this  name 
on  that  branch  of  the  Nile,  which  ran  by  Zoan,  or  Tanis.  But, 
according  to  Bochart,  the  Diospolis  of  these  translators  is 
rather  the  famous  Thebes,  in  the  south  of  Egypt.  He  supposes 
that  the  Jove,  from  whom  it  was  named,  was  Ham,  the  son 
of  Noah,  and  father  of  Misraim.  His  opinion  is  founded  on 
this,  that  what  we  translate  (Jer.  xlvi.  25.)  the  muliiiude  of 
No,  is,  in  the  Hebrew  text,  Amon-no,  meaning  the  god  Amon, 
whose  temple  was  in  the  city  No:  whence  this  city  is  called 
Amon-no,  in  other  places  of  Scripture.  Now  it  is  very  pro- 
bable that  Ham  w^as  the  Amon  here  worshipped,  as  well  as 
Jupiter  Amon  or  Ammon,  whose  oracle  was  so  famous  in  the 
adjacent  parts  of  Africa.  From  the  historian  Diodorus  we 
learn  that  the  same  city  which  was  called  Thebes  from  The 
hah  an  ark,  w^as  also  called  Diospolis,  the  city  of  Jupiter, 
that  is,  of  Ham.  The  name  i\o,  is  elsewhere  written  Ncuh 
and  Nau,  which  all,  as  well  as  Thehah,  have  some  reference 
to  Noah  and  the  ark.  Ammon  refers  to  Ham,  the  progenitor 
of  the  people  who  worshipped  him,  and  hence  the  Greeks 
naturally  called  Ammon,  Jupiter,  and  the  city  Diospolis. 

This  city  was  very  large  and  populous,  adorned  with  temples, 
oalaces,  and  columns,  and  is  said  to  have  had  a  hundred  gates. 


AJVIP 


DICTIOJJARY   OF   THE   BIBLE. 


79 


The  ruins  of  Thebes  have  been  visited  by  modem  travellers, 
who  state  that  they  occupy  a  space  of  27  miles  in  circumfer- 
ence. 

It  must  not  be  omitted  that  Jerom  and  other  Greek  and 
Latin  writers,  translate  Ammon-no  by  Alexandria,  which 
they  suppose  to  have  been  built  on  the  same  place  where 
the  former  city  stood;  but  this  is  not  considered  very 
probable. 

Amorites,  a  people  of  Canaan.     See  Part  I.  p.  28. 

Amphifolis,  a  city  at  the  head  of  the  Egean  Sea,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Strymon,  originally  belonging-  to  Thrace, 
but  afterwards  mcluded  in  Macedonia.  It  was  visited  by  St.- 
Paul  and  Silas.  (Acts  xvii.  1.)  It  was  built  by  an  Athenian 
colony,  about  473  years  before  Christ ;  was  noted  in  the  wars 
between  the  Athenians  and  Spartans,  and  was  taken  by 
Philip  the  Macedonian.  In  the  division  of  Macedonia  under 
the  Romans,  by  Paulus  Emilius,  it  was  made  the  chief  city 
of  the  first  region  of  Macedonia,  and  a  metropolis.  It  is  now 
called  Emboli  by  the  Turks,  but  is  not  a  place  of  much  im- 
portance. 

Ancient  medals  of  Amphipolis  show  that  this  city  was  of 
consequence. 


No.  1.  A  female  figure,  v%'ith  the  emblems  of  Ceres,  the  torch,  and 
the  ears  of  corn ;  also,  with  the  shield  of  IMinerva,  and  the  sacred 
calathus  of  the  Egyptian  deity,  Serapis.  These  probably  indicate  the 
east,  the  origin  of  light,  and  the  country  which  first  yielded  food  and 
drink  for  man. 

No.  2.  Represents  Augustus  making  a  speech  to  his  army,  under  the 
tutelage  of  Julius  Caesar ;  and  is  remarkable,  as  it  seems  to  indicate  a 
rivalship  between  Amphipolis  and  the  neighbouring  city,  Philippi, 
where  both  these  emperors  were  highly  honoured. 


80 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


ANT 


No.  3.  A  bull,  which  appears  originally  lo  have  been  the  emblem  of 
Mount  Taurus  :  the  head  of  Apollo,  on  the  same  medal,  agrees  with 
this  conjecture.    They  all  have  the  inscription,  Ampiiipoleiton. 

Anab,  a  city  in  the  mountains  of  Judah.     Josh.  xi.  21. 

Anaharath,  a  city  belonging-  to  the  tribe  of  Issachar. 
Josh.  xix.  19. 

Anakim,  a  gigantic  people  of  Canaan,  descended  from 
Anak.     See  Part  I.  p.  32. 

Anamim,  descendants  of  Misraim.     See  Part  I.  p.  26. 

Anathoth,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Benjamin, 
(Josh.  xxi.  18.)  distant  from  Jerusalem,  according  to  Eusebius 
and  Jerom,  about  three  miles.  It  was  a  Levitical  city,  of  the 
family  of  Kohath,  and  a  city  of  refuge ;  also  noted  as  the 
birth-place  of  the  prophet  Jeremiah.  1  Kings  ii.  26.  Isa.  x. 
30.  Jer.  i.  1. 

Anem,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  given  to  the  Levitea 
of  Kohath's  family.  1  C.hron.  vi.  73. — Also,  a  city  in  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  50.)  eight  or  ten  miles  east  of  Hebron. 

Aner,  a  Levitical  city  in  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh,  west 
of  Jordan.  1  Chron.  vi.  70. 

Anti-libanus,  See  Lihanus. 

Antioch.  There  were  anciently  several  cities  of  this  name, 
of  which  two  are  particularly  mentioned  in  sacred  history, 
namely,  Antioch  in  Syria,  and  Antioch  in  Pisidia. 

1.  Antioch  in  Sxjria.  Tliis  city,  sometimes  called  the 
Greater  Antioch,  was  situated  upon  both  sides  of  the  river 
Orontes,  about  twelve  miles  from  the  Mediterranean  Sea.  It 
was  built,  accoi'ding  to  some  historians,  by  AntiocJnts  Epi- 
phanes ;  but  others  say  by  Seleucus  Nicanor,  first  king  of 


ANT 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE. 


81 


Syria,  and  named  in  honour  of  liis  father  Antiochvs.  It  was 
the  royal  seat  of  the  kings  of  Syria,  and,  according  to  Strabo, 
not  much  inferior  in  power  and  dignity  to  Seleucia  or  Alex- 
andria: in  fact,  it  was  long  the  most  powerful  city  of  the 
east.  It  afterwards  suffered  much  from  earthquakes,  as  well 
as  war,  being  several  times  taken  by  the  Persians  and  Sara- 
cens. In  the  year  1098  it  w^as  taken  by  the  Christian  cru- 
saders, and  in  1268  was  taken  and  demolished  by  the  Sara- 
cens. It  is  now  called  Antakia,  and  is  but  a  ruinous  town, 
with  houses  built  of  mud  and  straw,  dirty  and  narrow  streets, 
with  filthy  and  wretched  inhabitants. 

In  Antioch,  the  disciples  of  Jesus  Christ  were  first  called 
Christians,  (Acts  xi.  28.)  having  been  before,  by  way  of 
derision,  called  Nazarenes,  as  the  Jews  scornfully  call  them 
to  the  present  time,  and  as  the  Pagans  called  them  Galileans. 
Here  was  also  the  birth-place  of  St.  Luke,  and  of  Theophilus 
Antiochenus;  here  also  Paul  and  Barnabas  remained  and 
preached  during  a  vrhole  year.  In  the  earlier  times  of 
Christianity,  its  bishop  was  honoured  with  the  title  of  Patri- 
arch; the  celebrated  martyr,  Ignatius,  was  one  of  its 
bishops. 

It  was  famous  among  the  Jews  for  the  Jus  Civitatis,  or 
right  of  citizenship,  which  Seleucus  had  given  to  them,  in 
common  with  the  Greeks  and  Macedonians,  and  which, 
Joseph  us  informs  us,  they  continued  to  retain.  These  privi- 
leges contributed  to  render  this  place  so  desirable  to  the  early 
Christians,  who  were  at  first  considered  as  a  sect  of  Jews, 
smce  here  they  could  perform  public  w^orship  m  then-  own 
way,  and  enjoy  all  religious  privileges  without  persecution  or 
disturbance.  This  also  accounts  for  the  zeal  of  the  apostles 
in  introducing  the  gospel  into  Antioch. 


62 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


ANT 


No.  1.  A  medal  of  Antioch,  representing  Nemesis,  the  goddess  of 
divine  pimishmcnt;  which  shows  that  the  people  were  not  insensible 
to  the  nature  and  necessity  of  the  divine  government. 

No.  2.  sliows  the  importance  of  Antioch  in  ancient  times,  as  we 
learn  by  the  inscription,  A.xtiociieon  Metro.  Kolon.  wiiich  proves 
that  it  was  dignified  wiih  the  title  of  metropolis,  &:c.  By  other  medals 
of  this  place,  it  appcai-s  that  it  liad  also  the  title  oi'  sacred  and  an  asylum 
No.  3.  This  is  by  far  the  most  interesting 
medal  to  us,  as  Christians,  from  its  inscription, 
Antiocheon  epi.  Sator.n'inou — ovoLO.  7'/te 
Aidiochcans  binder  Saturniivis.  This  Satur 
ninus  was  governor  of  Syria  at  the  time  of  our 
Saviour's  birth,  according  to  Josephus ;  and 
Tertuliian  even  says  that  the  enrolment  or 
taxing  (Luke  ii.  1.)  was  made  by  liim.  Hence 
has  arisen  a  difficulty,  since  St.  Luke  says  that 
Cyrenius  was  governor  of  Sjma  at  the  time  of 
the  taxing.  The  letters  ovolo  on  this  medal 
are  thought  to  stand  for  the  name  of  Vo- 
lumnius,  the  colleague  of  Saiurninus,  at  the  time  of  the  dale  ot  this 
coin,  which  is  el,  35,  from  the  Julian  era,  corresponding  wilh  the  year 
of  Rome  740,  which  was  about  ten  years  before  the  death  of  Ilerod 
Cyrenius  was  appointed  to  Syria,  probably  on  the  death  of  Volumnius. 
about  the  year  746  or  747.  Kence  it  appears  that  the  account  of  St. 
Luke  agrees  with  that  of  Josephus  and  Tertuliian,  and  that  the  taxing 
was  made  by  Cyrenius,  who  had  succeeded  Volunmius  as  procurator 
of  Syria,  associated  with  the  governor  Saturninus. 

2.  Antioch  in  Pisidia,  so  called  to  distinguish  it  from  other 
places  of  the  same  name,  was  the  chief  city  of  Pisidia,  a  small 
province  of  Asia  JNIinor,  north  of  Pamphylia.  It  was  one  of 
the  sixteen  cities  said  to  have  been  founded  by  Seleucus  in 
honour  of  his  father  Antiochus.  Paul  and  Barnabas  preached 
here  with  some  success ;  but  the  Jews  raising-  a  sedition  against 
them,  they  were  obliged  to  leave  the  city.  Acts  xiii.  14. 


APOL  DICTIONAJdY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  83 

No.  1.  A  medal  of  Antioch  in  Pisidia,  representing  the  goddess 
Cybele,  worshipped  in  this  city. 

JVo.  2.  A  medal  with  the  figure  of  the  deity,  Men,  Meen,  or  Mensis, 
called  in  Hebrew  Meni.  The  prophet  says,  (Isa.  Ixv.  11.)  "Ye  prepare 
a  table  lor  Gad,  and  furnish  a  drink  offering  to  Meni."  (The  Hebrew 
words  Gad  and  Me7ii,  in  the  English  translation  of  ihe  Bible,  are  ren- 
dered that  troop,  and  number.)  Gad  probably  means  the  deity,  Good 
Fortune,  whose  figure,  with  the  cornucopia  and  rudder,  appears  fre- 
quently on  ancient  medals.  The  crescent  on  our  figure  of  Mem,  alludes 
to  the  moon,  the  "  queen  of  heaven  ;"  and  the  worship  of  this  deity  oc- 
cupied the  whole  family,  fathers,  women  and  children,  as  we  learn  from 
Jer.  vii.  18. ;  and  this  was  done  "  in  the  streets,"  in  expectation  of  plenty, 
(chap.  xliv.  17,  18.)  the  very  idea  of  the  cornucopia  accompanying  For- 
tune. 

Antipatri.s,  a  town  in  Samaria,  north-we.st  from  Jerusa- 
lem, anciently  called  Caphar-salama,  but  named  Antipatris  by 
Herod,  in  honour  of  his  father,  Antipater,  It  was  situated  in 
the  way  from  Jerusalem  to  Csesarea,  and  hither  Paul  and  his 
g"uard  came  by  night.  Acts  xxiii.  31.  It  was  42  miles  from 
Jerusalem,  and  26  from  Csesarea.  Josephus  says  it  was  17 
miles  from  Joppa. 

Apamea,  a  city  situated  on  the  river  Orontes  in  Syria. 
There  w^as  another  city  of  this  name  in  Phrygia  in  Asia,  Mi- 
nor, called  also  Kibotos,  the  ark;  having  on  its  medals  a 
figure  of  the  ark,  and  a  man  receiving  a  dove  flying  to  him, 
with  part  of  the  inscription  Noe :  hence  some  have  conjec- 
tured that  the  ark  rested  not  far  from  this  place,  as  the  subject 
w^as  doubtless  annually  celebrated  in  the  city.  Calmet, 
Script.  lUusi. 

Apharsachites,  people  sent  by  the  kings  of  Assyria  to  in- 
habit the  country  of  Samaria,  in  the  room  of  those  Israelites 
who  had  been  removed  beyond  the  Euphrates.   Ezra  v.  6. 

Aphek,  the  name  of  several  cities  mentioned  in  Scripture. 

1.  Aphek,  a  town  m  the  tribe  of  Asher.  Josh.  xLx.  30. 
Judg.  i.  31.    1  Sam.  iv.  1.  xxix.  1.    1  Kings  xx.  30. 

2.  Aphek,  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh.  xii.  18.  called  ApTie- 
kah,  XV.  53. 

3.  Aphek  in  the  tribe  of  Manasseh.  Josh.  xii.  18.  xiii. 
Appii-Forum,  a  place  in  Italy,  about  50  miles  from  Rome, 

where  Paul  was  met  by  some  Christians,  in  his  journey 
thither.  Acts  xxviii.  15.  This  place  is  thought  to  have  been 
named  the  Forum  of  Appius,  from  the  same  Appius  who  gave 
name  to  the  Appian  way,  near  Rome. 

Apollo>-ia.  a  city  in  the  south  of  Macedonia,  not  far  from 


84 


SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY 


ARA 


Amphipolis,  through  which  St.  Paul  passed  on  his  way  to 
Thessalonica.  Acts  xvii.  1. 

Ar,  the  chief  city  of  the  Moabites,  (Numb.  xxi.  15.  28.) 
called  also  Rabbath  Moab.  It  was  situated  upon  the  river 
Arnon,  and  was  called  by  the  Greek  writers  x^reopolis.  Some 
have  supposed  this  city  to  have  been  the  same  with  Aroer; 
but  Aroer  was  given  to  the  tribe  of  Gad,  and  was  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Arnon,  whereas  Ar  belonged  to  the  Moabites,  and 
was  consequently  on  the  soutli  side  of  that  river. 

Arabia,  a  large  tract  of  country  in  Asia,  bounded  north  by 
Syria  and  Persia;  east  by  the  Persian  Gulf  and  Arabian  S.ea; 
south-east  by  the  Indian  Ocean ;  south  by  the  Straits  of  Babel- 
mandel,  and  west  by  the  Red  Sea,  Isthmus  of  Suez,  and  the 
Land  of  Canaan  or  Judea:  extending  1500  miles  from  north 
to  south,  and  1200  from  east  to  west.  The  name  Arabia  is 
supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  Hebrew  word  Orebeh,  a  wil- 
derness or  desert. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  countries  in  the  v/orld. 
It  has,  according  to  prophecy,  never  been  subdued :  and  its  in- 
habitants, at  once  pastoral,  commercial,  and  warlike,  are  the 
same  wild,  wandering  people,  as  the  immediate  descendants 
of  their  great  ancestor  Ishmael  are  represented  to  have  been. 


Arab  Tent. 

But  though  in  the  tribes  of  the  desert  his  descendants  are  re- 
cognized, Arabia  was  not  first  peopled  by  him,  but  by  some  of 
the  numerous  families  of  Cush,  as  we  have  stated  in  Part  T. : 


ARA  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  85 

and  it  is  not  until  about  550  years  after  the  deluge  that  we 
read  of  the  Ishmaelites  and  Midianites,  as  the  shepherds  and 
carriers  of  the  deserts,  and  who  were  probably  intermingled 
and  shared  the  territory  and  the  traffic,  as  the  traders  who 
bought  Joseph  are  called  by  both  names. 

Arabia  has  been  divided  by  geographers  into  thr'^o  separate 
regions,  called  Arabia  Petrsea,  Arabia  Deserta.  and  Arabia 
Felix. 

Arabia  Petrsea  is  the  north-western  division ;  bounded  north 
by  Judea  and  the  Dead  Sea ;  east  by  Arabia  Deserta ;  south 
by  Arabia  Felix ;  and  west  by  the  western  arm  or  branch  of 
the  Red  Sea  and  the  Isthmus  of  Suez.  The  greater  part  of 
this  division  was  more  particularly  the  possession  of  the  Midi- 
anites ;  and  in  this  region  were  the  wanderings  of  the  Israel- 
ites after  leaving  Egypt.  Here  were  also  seated  the  Edomites 
and  Amalekites.  The  greater  part  of  this  district  consists  of 
sandy  and  stony  plains,  with  naked  rocks;  but  it  contains 
some  fertile  spots,  particularly  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Mount 
Sinai,  and  in  the  range  of  Mount  Seir. 

Arabia  Deserta  is  bounded  north  and  north-east  by  Persia ; 
east  by  a  range  of  mountains  which  separate  it  from  Chaldea ; 
south  by  Arabia  Felix ;  and  west  by  Syria,  Judea,  and  Arabia 
Petrsea.  Tliis  was  more  particularly  the  country,  first  of  the 
Cushites,  and  afterwards  of  the  Ishmaelites,  as  it  is  still  of 
their  descendants,  the  modern  Bedouins,  who  maintain  the 
same  predatory  and  wandering  habits.  It  consists  almost  en- 
tirely of  one  vast  and  lonesome  v/ilderness,  a  boundless  level 
of  dry  and  burning  sands,  denying  existence  to  all  but  the 
Arab  and  his  camel.  There  are,  however,  scattered  over  this 
dreary  waste,  a  few  spots  of  vegetation,  where  a  feeble  sprmg 
of  brackish  water,  with  a  few  palm-trees,  fix  the  principal 
settlement  of  a  tribe,  and  afford  stages  of  refreshment  in  these 
otherwise  impassable  deserts. 

Arabia  Felix,  so  called  from  the  happier  condition  of  its 
soil  and  climate,  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  the  country. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  two  other  divisions ;  east  by 
the  Persian  Gulf  and  Arabian  Sea ;  south-east  by  the  Indian 
Ocean ;  south  by  the  Straits  of  Babelmandei ;  and  west  by 
the  Red  Sea.  It  is  divided  into  several  provhices,  of  which 
Yemen,  at  the  southern  extremity,  is  represented  as  a  well 
watered  and  fertile  region,  producing  abundance  of  corn  and 
fruits,  and  rich  crops  of  the  finest  coffee,  of  which  large  quan- 


80  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  AHA 

titles  are  exported.  In  the  western  part  of  this  division  are 
the  cities  of  Mecca  and  Medina. 

The  people  of  Arabia  Felix  claim  descent  direct  from  Jok- 
tan,  the  son  of  Heber,  of  the  family  of  Shem,  instead  of  Abra- 
ham and  Ham,  as  the  other  Arabians ;  and  are  indeed  a  total- 
ly different  people  from  those  inhabiting  the  other  parts  of  the 
country.  Instead  of  being  shepherds  and  robbers,  they  live 
in  towns  and  cities,  and  subsist  by  agriculture  and  commerce. 
These  were  the  people  who  were  found  by  the  Greeks  of 
Egypt,  enjoying  a  monopoly  of  the  trade  with  the  East,  and 
possessing  a  high  degree  of  wealth  and  refinement.  From 
them  the  precious  spices  and  merchandise  of  the  east  were 
carried  across  the  country  to  Egypt,  by  the  Cushite,  Ishmael- 
ite,  and  Midianite  carriers,  to  a  company  of  whom  Joseph  was 
sold  by  his  brethren. 

It  is  a  singular  and  important  fact,  that  Arabia  has  never 
been  conquered  by  any  invader,  and  the  people  still  inhabit 
the  land  of  their  fathers.  It  was  prophesied  in  Scripture  that 
they  should  be  invincible,  and  their  millions  of  inhabitants  are 
so  many  witnesses  of  the  truth  of  revelation.  Every  man's 
hand  is  against  Ishmael,  and  his  against  every  man ;  and  yet 
he  dwells  securely  among  his  brethren.  The  body  of  the  na- 
tion has  escaped  the  yoke  of  the  most  powerful  monarchies. 
The  arms  of  Sesostris  and  Cyrus,  of  Pompey  and  Csesar,  of 
Trajan  and  Napoleon,  have  never  achieved  the  conquest  of 
Arabia.  The  present  sovereign  of  the  Turks  may  exercise 
a  shadow  of  jurisdiction ;  but  his  pride  is  reduced  to  solicit 


ARA  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  87 

the  friendship  of  a  people,  whom  it  is  dangerous  to  provoke, 
and  fruitless  to  attack.  Their  domestic  feuds  are  suspended 
on  tlie  approacli  of  a  common  enemy,  and  in  their  last  hostili- 
ties against  the  Turks,  the  caravan  of  Mecca  was  attacked 
and  plundered  by  eighty  thousand  Arabs.  When  they  advance 
to  battle,  the  hope  of  victory  is  in  the  front,  and  the  assurance 
of  retreat  in  the  rear.  Mounted  on  horses'and  camels,  which 
in  a  few  days  can  perform  a  march  of  four  or  five  iiundred 
miles,  they  disappear  before  the  conqueror ;  the  secret  waters 
of  the  desert  elude  his  search,  and  his  victorious  troops  are 
consumed  with  thirst,  hunger  and  fatigue,  in  the  pursuit  of  an 
invisible  foe,  who  scorns  his  efibrts,  and  safely  reposes  in  the 
heart  of  the  burning  solitude. 

The  Arabians  were  confounded  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans, 
under  the  general  name  of  Saracens ;  and  by  this  they  were 
called  when  Mahomet  appeared  in  the  seventh  century.  Their 
religion  at  this  time  was  Sabianism,  or  the  worship  of  the  sun, 
moon,  &c.  intermingled  with  some  Jewish  and  Christian  max- 
ims and  traditions.  The  tribes  tiiemselves  Vv^ere  generally  at 
variance  one  with  another,  and  desultory  skirmishes,  arising 
from  these  feuds,  were  frequent.  Yet  of  these  discordant  ma- 
terials Mahomet  constructed  a  mighty  empire ;  converted  the 
relapsed  Ishmaelites  into  good  Mussulmans ;  united  the  jarring 
tribes  under  one  banner ;  and  out  of  a  banditti,  little  known 
and  little  feared  beyond  their  own  deserts,  raised  an  armed 
multitude  which  proved  the  scourge  of  the  world.  During 
tlie  whole  of  the  succeeding  century,  the  rapid  career  of  his 
followers  was  unchecked ;  the  disciplined  armies  of  the  Greeks 
and  Romans  were  unable  to  stand  against  them ;  the  Christian 
churches  of  Asia  and  Africa  were  anniliilated  ;  and  from  India 
to  the  Atlantic,  through  Persia,  Arabia,  Syria,  Palestine,  Asia 
Minor,  Egypt,  with  the  whole  of  northern  Africa,  Spain,  and 
part  of  France,  the  Impostor  was  acknowledged.  Constanti- 
nople was  besieged  ;  the  Roman  empire  was  plundered ;  and 
nothing  less  than  the  subjection  of  the  whole  Christian  world 
was  meditated  on  the  one  hand,  and  expected  on  the  other. 

But  the  five  prophetic  months  (1-50  years)  which  this  scourge 
was  to  last,  (Rev.  ix.)  being  fulfilled,  the  conquests  of  the 
Caliphs  were  checked.  They  were  first  defeated  in  France, 
by  Charles  Martel ;  the  Persians  and  Greeks  were  at  length 
aroused  from  "their  thraldom ;  the  Turks,  issuing  from  the 
plains  of  Tartary,  now  first  made  their  appearance  in  the  east, 
and  the  power  of  the  Saracen  Caliphate  was  extinguished. 


SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 


ARA 


But  although  the  foreign  dominion  of  the  Arabians  was  thus 
destroyed,  their  native  independence  was  untouched ;  for,  re- 
turning to  the  state  in  wliicli  Maliomet  found  them,  witii  the 
exception  of  their  religion  being  changed,  they  remained,  and 
still  remain,  the  unconquered  rovers  of  the  desert. 

Arad,  a  city  l}'ing  to  the  south  of  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
twenty  miles  south  of  Hebron,  according  to  Eusebius.  ^S'ee 
Part  I.  p.  60. 

Aradus,  a  small  and  rocky  island  on  the  coast  of  Syria, 
north  of  Tripolis.  It  is  about  a  mile  in  circumference ;  and 
two  miles  from  the  shore.  Aradus  is  the  Greek  name  for  this 
place,  and  it  is  so  called  in  Maccabees;  but  its  Hebrew  name 
was  Arvad  or  Aruad,  to  wliicli  its  m.odern  name  Ruad,  bears 
a  striking  resemblance.  The  Hebrew  nam^e  was  probably  de- 
rived from  Arvad,  one  of  the  sons  of  Canaan.  See  Part  I.  p. 
28.  The  different  names  of  Arpad,  Arpliad,  and  Arvad,  oc- 
curring in  Kings,  Isaiah,  and  Ezekiel,  appear  to  be  the  same. 
Here  was  formerly  a  powerful  city,  and  a  republic,  which  the  • 
liberty  enjoyed  by  the  inhabitants  had  rendered  very  populous. 
It  subsisted  by  naval  commerce,  manufactures,  and  arts. 

No.  1.  A  medal  of  Ara- 
dus, on  Avhich  ihe  fly  ap- 
pears to  have  been  intend- 
ed to  commemorate  Jupi- 
ter Mascariiis ;  the  same, 
in  all  probability,  as  Baal- 
zebub,  Baal  the  Jl;/,  the 
god  of  Ekron,  whose  wor- 
ship was  not  confined  to 
that  city.  The  slag  with 
the  palm-tree  refer  to  the 
possessions  of  this  people  on  the  continent,  probably  about  Mount  Leba- 
non, which  abounded  with  deer,  agreeably  1o  the  comparison  by  Jacob, 
of  his  son  Naphtali  to  a  deer,  because  that  tribe  had  an  allotment  on  this 


1 


ARM  .  DICTIONARY  OF  THE   BIBLE.  89 

No  2.  The  two  sphinxes,  with  the  sacred  measure  on  their  -heads, 
seem  to  ally  Aradus  with  Eg^'pt. 

No.  3.  shows  that  the  people  of  Aradus  venerated  the  sun,  and  were 
proud  of  the  productions  of  their  territor\^  corn  and  wine. 

At  present  the  island  is  deserted,  and  not  a  single  wall  is 
remaining  of  all  that  multitude  of  houses,  which,  according  to 
Strabo,  were  built  \vith  more  stories  than  even  those  of  Rome. 

Aram,  a  name  given  in  the  writings  of  Moses  to  the  coun- 
try commonly  called  Syria,  peopled  by  Aram,  the  son  of  Shem. 
See  Syria,  and  Mesopotamia. 

Ararat,  a  mountain,  or  mountains,  in  the  north-east  of 
Armenia,  on  w'hich  the  ark  is  supposed  to  have  rested.  The 
name  is  compounded  of  Ar-Arat,  which  is  equivalent  to  Har- 
Irad  in  Hebrew,  and  implies  the  Mountam  of  Descent.  See 
Part  I.  p.  12. 

Areopagus,  or  Mars'  Hill.    See  Athens. 

Argob,  a  city  and  region  lying  east  of  Jordan  in  the  coun- 
try of  Bashan,  afterwards  given  to  Manasseh.     See  Part  I. 

p.    54:. 

Artmathea,  also  called  Ramah,  and  Ramathaim  Zophim, 
(1  Sam.  1.)  a  town  about  30  miles  north-west  of  Jerusalem, 
on  the  road  to  Jaffa.  This  was  the  native  place  of  Joseph  of 
Arimathea,  who  begged  the  body  of  Jesus  from  Pilate.  (Matt, 
xxvii.  57.)  It  is  now  called  Ramla,  and  contains  about  5000 
inhabitants,  who  are  chiefly  occupied  in  agricultural  pursuits, 
for  which  the  surrounding  country  is  highly  favourable, 
abounding  in  vineyards,  olives,  and  dates.  Ramah  and  Lydda 
were  the  two  first  cities  taken  by  the  crusaders. 

Armenia,  a  considerable  country  of  Asia,  consisting  of  mod- 
ern Turcomania,  and  part  of  Persia ;  having  Colchis  and  Ibe- 
ria, the  modern  Georgia,  on  the  north ;  Media  on  the  east ; 
Assyria  and  Mesopotamia  on  the  south,  and  Asia  Muior  on 
the  west.  Armenia  is  sometimes  confounded  with  Aramsea, 
the  land  of  Aram  or  Syria;  but  they  are  totally  different. 
Armenia,  which  is  separated  from  Aram  by  the  range  called 
Mount  Taurus,  was  so  named  from  Ar-Men,  or  Ar-minni,  i.  e. 
ihe  mountainous  country  of  Meni  or  Minni,  the  people  of 
which  are  mentioned  by  Jeremiah,  (chap.  li.  27.)  when  sum- 
moning the  nations  against  Babylon.  Ararat  and  Minni,  in 
this  passage,  are  so  translated  in  our  Bibles  as  to  make  two 
different  kingdoms ;  but  they  appear  to  be  the  same,  and  im- 
ply the  people  of  Ararat  or  Armenia. 


90  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  ARP 

This  country  includes  the  sources  of  the  rivers  Tigris  and 
Euphrates,  the  Araxes  and  Phasis ;  and  here  tlie  country  of 
Eden,  in  which  the  garden  was  situated,  is  hy  many  sup- 
posed to  have  been  situated.     See  Eden,  Part  I.  p.  10. 

Armenia  was  formerly  an  independent  kingdom,  but  is  now 
subject,  partly  to  Persia,  and  partly  to  the  Turks.  The  part 
subject  to  the  Persians  is  Eastern,  Upper,  or  Grand  Armenia; 
and  the  other.  Lower,  Little,  or  Western  Armenia.  The  peo- 
ple are  sober,  industrious,  and  enterprising,  and  have  in  all 
ages  maintained  a  great  similarity  of  character,  partly  com- 
mercial, and  partly  pastoral ;  some  living  at  home  with  their 
flecks,  and  others  travelling  as  merchants  and  dealers  into 
distant  countries.  Merchants  of  Armenia  are  found  in  almost 
every  considerable  port  of  Asia  and  Europe. 

The  religion  of  the  Armenians  is  Christian,  of  the  sect  of 
Eutyches,  owning  but  one  nature  in  Jesus  Christ ;  and  it  is  a 
remarkable  proof  of  the  firmness  of  this  people,  that  they  have 
been  able  to  preserve  their  ancient  faith,  though  subject  to 
their  Mahometan  masters,  and  surrounded  by  nations  who 
have  not  only  submitted  to  the  arms  of  the  Turks,  but  also  to 
their  religion. 

Arnon,  a  river  which  formed  the  boundary  between  the 
countries  of  Moab  and  Amrnon ;  rismg  in  the  mountains  of 
Gilead,  east  of  Jordan,  flowing  at  first  towards  the  south,  then 
turning  to  the  west,  and  emptying  into  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Dead  Sea.  After  the  Ammonites  had  been  dispossessed  of 
the  country  on  the  east  of  Jordan  by  the  Amorites,  this  river 
was  the  division  between  the  latter  people  and  the  Moabites  ; 
and  later  still,  after  the  Israelites  had  conquered  the  country 
of  the  Amorites,  the  Arnon  was  the  boundary  between  the 
tribe  of  Reuben  and  the  Land  of  Moab.  It  is  also  called  the 
river  of  Gad,  (2  Sam.  xxiv.  5.  2  Kings  x.  33.)  being  the  east- 
ern boundary  of  that  tribe. 

Aroer,  a  city  on  the  river  Arnon,  probably  partly  on  an 
island,  as  it  is  called  "  the  city  in  the  midst  of  tlie  river." 
(Josh.  xiii.  9.)  It  formerly  belonged  to  the  Amorites,  but  was 
afterwards  given  to  the  tribe  of  Gad.  Some  have  tliought 
there  was  another  city  of  this  name  further  south,  in  the  tribe 
of  Reuben ;  and  from  a  want  of  knowledge  respecting  the 
true  course  of  the  Arnon,  considerable  uncertainty  attends  the 
subject. 

Arpad,  Arphad,  and  Arvad  ;  See  Aradus. 


ASH  DICTIONARY   OF  THE   BIBLE.  91 

Arueoth,  a  city  or  country  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Judah; 
the  situation  of  which  is  not  known.  1  Kings  iv.  10. 

Arvadites,  the  descendants  of  Arvad,  one  of  the  sons  of 
Canaan.  See  jParl  I.  p.  28. 

AsHAN,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  afterwards  given  to 
Simeon.  Josh.  xv.  42.  xix.  7. 

AsHDOD,  a  city  of  the  Philistines,  giving  name  to  one  of 
the  five  governments  of  that  people.  It  was  first  allotted  to 
the  tribe  of  Judah,  and  afterwards  to  Dan  ;  but  was  possessed 
for  a  long  time  after  by  the  Philistines,  and  rendered  famous 
for  the  temple  of  their  god,  Dagon.  (1  Sam.  v.  1.)  It  is 
situated  upon  the  Mediterranean,  nine  or  ten  miles  north  of 
Gaza.  Ashdod  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Azotus,  by  the 
Syrians  Ezdoud,  and  by  the  Arabs  Mezdel.  It  is  represented 
as  having  been  a  place  of  great  strength ;  and  is  remarkable 
for  sustaining  the  longest  siege  mentioned  in  history,  having 
been  taken  by  Psamm.etichus,  king  of  Egypt,  after  a  siege  of 
29  years.  It  is  at  present  an  inconsiderable  village,  but  con- 
tains many  fragments  of  buildings  and  ruins,  which  remain  of 
its  former  greatness.  Here  Philip  the  Evangelist  was  found, 
after  he  had  baptized  the  Ethiopian  eunuch.  Acts  viii.  40. 

AsHDOTH-PiSGAH,  a  city  of  the  Amorites,  allotted  to  the 
tribe  of  Reuben.  It  w^as  so  called  from  lying  near  Mount 
Pisgah. 

AsHER,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  I.  p.  66. 

AsHNAH,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  33. 

AsHKENAz,  a  son  of  Gomer,  and  grandson  of  Japheth.  See 
Part  I.  p.  16. 

AsHTAROTH,  or  AsJitaroth  Carnaim,  one  of  the  chief  cities 
in  the  kingdom  of  Bashan,  given  to  the  half  tribe  of  Manasseh, 
east  of  Jordan.  Karnaim,  m  Hebrew,  implies  two-horned, 
and  the  city  is  supposed  to  have  derived  both  names  from  the 
worship  of  the  goddess  Ashtaroth,  who  was  represented  like 
the  Egyptian  Isis,  with  two  horns,  or  a  horned  moon.  This 
city  is  sometimes  called  simply  Carnaim,  or  Carnion.  1  Mace. 
V.  26.  43,  44. 

'  Ashtaroth  was  the  chief  goddess  of  the  Sidonians,  and  was 
«nuch  worshipped  in  Syria  and  Phenecia  under  that  name,  as 
well  as  those  of  "  the  host  of  heaven,"  and  "  the  queen  of 
heaven."  She  is  supposed  by  some  to  be  the  Diana  of  the 
Gree  ks ;  but  the  worship  paid  to  her  was  more  that  of  Venus. 
Solomon,  to  please  his  strange  wives,  introduced  the  worship 


92  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  ASK 

of  Ashtaroth  amongst  the  Israelites ;  but  it  was  established  by 
Jezebel.  (1  Kings  xviii.)  This  goddess  was  afterwards 
adopted  by  the  eastern  Greeks,  under  the  name  Astarte. 

Accordmg  to  Jerom,  Ashtaroth  was  called  Carnea  in  his 
time,  and  was  then  a  considerable  city,  six  miles  from  Edrei. 

Asia  is  used  in  a  threefold  sense  :  1.  As  one  of  the  four 
great  divisions  of  the  earth.  2.  Asia  Minor  or  Lesser  Asia, 
now  called  Anatolia.  3.  The  Asia  of  the  New  Testament, 
comprehending  Phrygia,  Mysia,  Caria,  and  Lydia.  This  was 
the  Roman  proconsular  Asia,  in  which  were  the  seven  churches 
of  Asia,  mentioned  in  the  Revelations  of  St.  John. 

As  the  ancient  Hebrews  were  strangers  to  the  division  of 
the  earth  into  three  or  four  parts,  we  never  find  the  name 
Asia  in  any  book  originally  written  in  Hebrew.  They  seemed 
to  think  that  the  continent  consisted  only  of  Asia  Minor  and 
Africa :  the  rest  of  the  world  was  comprised  under  the  name 
"  isles  of  the  Gentiles."  Gen.  x.  5. 

Asia  Minor  is  the  country  lying  west  of  Mount  Taurus, 
principally  between  the  Euxine  or  Black  Sea  and  the  Medi- 
terranean ;  containing  the  provinces  of  Bithynia,  Pontus,  Ga- 
latia,  Cappadocia,  Cilicia,  Pamphylia,  Pisidia,  Lycaonia,  Phry- 
gia, Mysia,  Troas,  &c.  all  of  which  are  mentioned  in  Scrip- 
ture, and  which  we  shall  describe  under  their  several  heads. 

AsKELON,  called  Ascalon  by  the  Greeks  and  Latins,  was 
one  of  the  five  great  cities  or  lordships  of  the  Philistines,  sit- 
uated in  the  west  of  Canaan,  40  miles  westward  from  Jeru- 
salem, between  Gaza  on  the  south,  and  Ashdod  on  the  north. 
It  appears  to  have  been  the  chief  of  those  cities  ;  and  even  in 
the  time  of  the  crusades,  such  was  its  strength,  that  it  was 
the  last  of  the  maritime  towns  which  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Christians.  It  is  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  crusades, 
from  the  defeat  of  the  Caliph  of  Egypt  by  Godfrey  of  Bou- 
illon, in  1099 ;  and  that  of  Saladin,  the  Saracen  Emperor,  by 
Richard  of  England,  in  1192,  when  40,000  of  the  Saracens 
and  Turks  were  killed,  and  the  place  afterwards  captured. 
Ascalon  was  the  birth-place  of  Herod  the  Great.  It  is  now 
in  ruins,  and  though  close  to  the  shore,  had  but  few  advan- 
tages as  a  port,  the  coast  being  sandy  and  difficult  of  access. 
According  to  Origen,  there  are  wells  here  said  to  have  been 
dug  by  Abraham  and  Isaac. 


ASS 


DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE. 


93 


No.  1.  A  medal  of  Ascalon,  with  the  figure  of  Jupiter  and  the  in- 
scription Alexaxdrou,  showing  that  Alexander  the  Great  (who  took 
this  city  332  years  before  Christ)  was  worehipped  here  as  a  deit}^;  or  in 
compliment  to  him  as  son  of  Jupiter,  which  he  reported  himself  to  be. 
In  some  other  cities  also,  were  temples  dedicated  to  the  worship  of 
Alexander. 

No.  2  shows  Semiramis,  or  the  Assj'rian  Venias,  standing  on  a  ship: 
inscription  Askalo. 

AsPHALTiTES  Laee.  See  Dead  Sea. 

AsPHAR,  a  lake  mentioned  in  1  Mace.  ix.  33.  probably  the 
same  as  iVsplialtites. 

Assos,  a  sea-port  of  Troas,  in  the  west  of  Asia  Minor,  to 
which  St.  Paul  went  on  foot  from  the  city  of  Troas,  and  from 
which  he  embarked  with  his  companions  to  go  to  Mytilene,  on 
the  opposite  island  of  Lesbos.  (Acts  xx.  13,  14.)  Jerom  says 
that  Assos  was  near  the  city  of  Troy. 

AssYPviA,  one  of  the  first  and  greatest  em.pires  of  Asia,  fre- 
quently mentioned  in  Scripture,  being  intimately  connected 
with  the  history  of  the  Jews.  This  empire,  in  its  greatest 
extent,  included  Persia,  Chaldea,  Media,  Mesopotamia,  Syria, 
Judea,  and  part  of  Arabia.  But  the  country  of  Assyria  pro- 
per lies  east  of  the  Tigris,  between  Armenia  on  the  north, 
and  Shinar,  Chaldea,  or  Babylonia  on  the  south  ;  having  Me- 
dia  on  the  east,  and  Mesopotamia  on  the  west.  It  is  generally 
supposed  to  have  been  founded  by  Asshur,  son  of  Shem,  who 
went  out  of  Shinar,  driven,  as  it  appears,  by  Nimrod,  and 
founled  Nineveh,  not  long  after  Nitnrod  had  fixed  his  residence 
at  Babel  or  Babylon,  and  established  the  Chaldean  monarcliy. 
But  the  learned  Bochart,  and  other  eminent  scholars,  adopt 
the  marginal  translation,  "  Out  of  that  land  he  (Nimrod)  went 
forth  into  Asshur  or  Assyria,  and  built  Nineveh."  (Gen.  x. 


94  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  ASS 

11.)  The  decision  of  this  question  is  difficult,  but  the  weight 
of  authority  is  in  favour  of  the  marginal  reading,  which  re- 
presents JNimrod  as  the  founder  of  Nineveh.  This  is  sup- 
ported by  the  Targums  of  Onkelos  and  Jerusalem,  by  Theo- 
philus,  bishop  of  Antioch,  and  Jerom,  among  the  ancients ;  and 
by  Bochart,  Faber,  Hyde,  Wells,  Marsham,  Le  Cliais,  and 
the  writers  of  the  Universal  History,  among  the  miOderns. 

The  government  of  this  empire  continued  in  the  family  of 
Nimrod  for  many  ages,  probably  till  its  overthrow  by  Arbaces, 
which  introduced  a  Median  dynasty.  Arbaces,  who  in  Scrip- 
ture is  called  Tiglath  Pileser,  was  governor  of  Media ;  and 
Belesis,  or  Nabonassar,  called  in  Scripture  Baladan,  Was  go- 
vernor of  Babylon :  these,  conspiring  together  with  the  Per- 
sians and  other  allies,  took  Nineveh,  aud  overthrew  the  go- 
vernment of  Sardanapalus,  who  lost  his  life  in  the  contest. 
Thus  the  second  race  of  Assyrian  kmgs  began  with  Arba 
ces;  while  Nabonassar  founded  a  new  empire  in  Babylon,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  king.  This  was  about  the  year  of  the 
world  3257,  or  747  before  Christ.  We  have  no  account  of 
the  Assyrian  empire,  in  the  Scriptures,  until  the  mission  of 
Jonali  to  Nineveh,  A.  M.  31,90,  and  B.  C.  824.  Between  40 
and  50  years  after  this,  an  Assyrian  king,  named  Pul,  who  is 
supposed  to  have  been  the  father  of  Sardanapalus,  invaded 
the  kingdom  of  Israel. 

The  first  captivity  of  the  Israelites  Vv^as  by  Tiglath  Pileser, 
or  Arbaces,  mentioned  above,  who  carried  away  the  people 
east  of  Jordan,  i.  e.  the  tribes  of  Reuben,  Gad,  and  the  half 
tribe  of  Manasseh,  into  Media.  (1  Chron.  v.  26.)  It  was  dur- 
ing the  period  of  this  second  Assyrian  empire,  between  the 
reigns  of  Tiglath  Pileser  and  Nabuchodonosor,  from  747  to 
6.55  before  Clirist,  including  the  reigns  of  Salmaneser  and 
Sennacherib,  that  most  of  the  events  mentioned  in  Scripture 
history,  as  connected  with  the  Assyrians,  took  place.  The 
second  captivity  of  the  Israelites,  and  the  extinction  of  the 
kingdom  of  Israel,  was  under  Salmaneser,  in  the  year  721 
before  Christ.  Sennacherib  succeeded  his  father  Salmaneser, 
and  invaded  the  kingdom  of  Judali,  but  on  the  payment  of  a 
large  ransom  by  king  Hezekiali,  tlie  Assyrian  passed  on  into 
Egypt  with  his  army,  where  he  destroyed  the  city  of  No. 
(Nahum  iii.  10.)  On  his  return  he  again  attacked  Judah, 
and  sent  a  blasphemous  message  to  king  Hezekiah,  (2  Kings 
xviii.)  who,  pleading  earnestly  for  a  particular  display  of  di- 
vine power,  was  relieved,  and  an  angel  of  the  Lord  went  out, 
and  smote  in  the  camp  of  the  Assyrians  a  hundred  and  eighty- 


ATA 


DICTIONARY  OF   THE   BIBtE. 


95 


five  thousand,  so  that  in  the  morning  they  were  all  dead 
corpses.  (2  Kings  xix.  35.)  After  this,  Sennacherib  returned 
in  disgrace  to  his  kingdom,  where  he  was  afterwards  killed  by 
his  two  sons,  Adramelech  and  Sharezer,  as  he  was  worship- 
ping in  the  temple  of  his  god  Nisroch.  The  Medes,  in  the 
mean  time,  taking  advantage  of  the  loss  of  his  army  in  Judea, 
shook  off  the  Assyrian  yoke,  and  formed  an  independent  em- 
pire. Sennacherib  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Esarhaddon, 
called  Asnappar  in  the  book  of  Ezra,  who  carried  away  those 
who  remained  of  the  people  of  Israel :  he  also  sent  part  of 
his  army  into  Judah,  who  took  its  king,  Manasseh,  prisoner, 
and  sent  him  in  chains  to  Babylon,  which  had  been  recently 
seized  by  Esarhaddon,  and  annexed  to  the  Assyrian  empire. 
Babylon  remained  an  appendage  of  Assyria,  for  the  space  of 
54  years,  until  they  were  again  separated  by  Nabopolassar,  a 
general  in  the  army,  and  father  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  who 
seized  Babylon  of  which  he  was  declared  king,  and  which 
again  became  independent  of  Assyria,  626  before  Christ. 
Fourteen  years  after  this,  Cyaxares,  king  of  Media,  and  Na- 
bopolassar, king  of  Babylon,  united  against  Assyria,  besieged 
and  took  Nineveh,  killed  CJiyniladanus  the  king,  and  destroyed 
the  city,  to  which  event  the  prophecies  of  Nahum  are  sup- 
posed to  refer.  Thus  an  end  was  put  to  the  empire  of  Assyria, 
612  before  Christ,  and  Babylon  became  the  ruling  power  in 
the  east. 

Atach,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.     1  Sam.  xxx.  30. 


View  of  Athens 


96  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  ATH 

Athens,  a  celebrated  city  and  commonwealth  of  Greece. 
This  city,  it  is  supposed,  was  founded  1580  years  before  Christ, 
and  880  before  tlie  building  of  Rome ;  to  which  adding  the 
time  which  has  since  elapsed,  1834,  will  make  the  duration  of 
Athens,  to  the  present  time,  3414  years.  The  situation  and 
history  of  Athens  are  too  well  known  to  make  it  necessary 
for  us  to  enter  further  into  particulars  than  is  requisite  to  elu- 
cidate the  circumstances  of  St  Paufs  visit,  A.  D.  82.  Athens 
was  famed  for  its  power,  laws,  arts,  literature,  and  learned 
men.  These  last  were  divided  into  sects,  differing  in  opinion 
on  religion  and  happiness,  and  spent  their  time  in  giving  and 
hearing  lessons  in  philosophy,  rhetoric,  and  metaphysics :  or 
in  vain  and  fruitless  speculations  on  the  nature  of  the  gods, 
the  perfection  of  human  nature,  and  the  attainment  of  the 
chief  good.  The  rest  of  the  inhabitants  spent  theirs  "  in 
nothing  else  but  either  to  tell  or  to  hear  some  new  thing." 
(Acts  xvii.  21.)  They  were  all  addicted  to  idleness,  and  the 
numerous  places  of  public  resort  atforded  every  class  the 
means  of  gratifying  their  thirst  for  inquiry,  superstition,  or 
dissipation.  Had  the  apostle  brougiit  some  new  scheme  of 
pliilosophy  or  ethics,  or  some  new  god  to  add  to  the  many 
which  the  Athenians  pretended  to  venerate,  he  would  have 
been  well  received.  Under  some  ideas  of  this  sort,  the  peo- 
ple carried  St.  Paul  to  the  Areopaaus,  that  he  might  explain 
to  them  "  the  new  doctrine  of  which  he  sjwlve."  The  Areo- 
pagus, or  Hill  of  Mars,  was  an  insulated  precipitous  rock,  in 
the  centre  of  Athens,  where  a  celebrated  tribunal  or  court 
was  held,  the  judges  of  which  were  called  Areopagites,  of 
whom  Dionysius  was  one.  (Acts  xvii.  84.)  This  court  took 
cognizance  chiefly  of  matters  of  religion,  such  as  blasphemies 
against  the  gods,  the  consecration  of  new  ones,  ceremonies  of 
worship,  &c.  This  was  the  place  to  which  Paul  was  brought 
as  "  a  setter  forth  of  strange  gods,"  and  where,  boldly  stand- 
ing up,  he  reproved  the  Athenians  for  their  absurd  idolatries, 
and  preached  Christ  and  the  resurrection ;  which  to  some  was 
foolishness,  to  others  a  matter  of  further  curiosity,  while  a 
few,  among  whom  was  Dionysius,  were  converted. 

With  regard  to  the  altar  with  the  inscription  "to  the 
UNKKOWN  GOD,"  WO  iiavc  the  testimony  of  JAician  tliat  such 
really  did  exist  at  Athens;  and  Diogenes  Laertius  tells  us  the 
following  occasion  of  their  being  erected.  The  city  being 
afflicted  with  a  pestilence,  Epimenides  took  several  sheep  to 


ATT 


DICTIONARY   OF  THE   BIBLE. 


97 


the  Areopagus,  whence  they  were  left  to  wander  as  they 
pleased.  Persons  were  appointed  to  watch  them,  and  where 
each  sheep  lay  down,  it  was  sacrificed  on  the  spot  to  the  pro- 
pitious god ;  but  which  god  it  was,  being  uncertain,  an  altar 
was  erected  to  the  unknown  god,  on  every  spot  where  a 
sheep  had  been  sacrificed.  By  this  ceremony,  it  is  said,  the 
city  was  relieved  of  the  pestilence. 


A^o.  1.  A  raoilai  of  Athens,  showing  the  Acropolis  standing  on  a  high 
roi.k,  on  vvliich  it  is  built.  In  the  rock  appears  the  sacred  grolto  of 
Apolio  and  Creasa,  a  liight  of  steps  up  to  the  ciiadel,  With  the  entrance 
to  the  Propylca,  the  temple  of  Minerva,  and  the  famous  figure  of  that 
poddeps  standing  as  protecting  and  presiding  over  all.  I'lie  spear  of 
this  figure  was  seen  from  far  off  at  sea.  St.  Paul  must  have  ohserved 
all  these  idolatrous  particulars,  as  well  as  the  altar  dedicated  to  the 
unknown  god. 

l\o.  2.  Represents  a  young  woman  scattering  flowers,  probably  in  the 
great  Panailier.aic  festival,  which  was  held  at  stated  limes,  in  com- 
memoration of  Minerva.  Well  might  Paul's  "spirit  be  stirred  in  him 
when  he  saw  the  city  wholly  given  to  idolatry."     Acts  xvii.  16. 

Attali.\,  a  city  on  the  coast  of  Pamphylia,  in  Asia  Minor, 
visited  by  Paul  and  Barnabas.  (Acts  xiv.  25.)  It  was  named 
from  Attalus,  its  founder  ;  and  is  now  called  Sattalia.  Being 
well  situated  for  trade,  the  Turks  keep  the  fortifications  in 
repair. 


A  medal  of  Attalia,  on  one 
side  of  which  is  Neptune,  with 
his  trident,  denoting  this  to  be 
a  sea-port  town :  the  figure 
on  the  other  side  is  uncertain, 
— possibly  Pluto. 


9S  SCRIPTURE   CxEOGRAPHT.  BAA 

AvA,  (2  Kings  xvii.  24.)  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  Ivah, 

city  of  Assyria,  from  whence  Salmaneser  brouo-ht  people 
called  Avites  (2  King's  xvii.)  to  inhabit  Samaria,  after  he  had 
carried  away  the  Israelites  into  captivity. 

AvEN,  a  city  of  Egypt,  (Ezek.  xxx.  17.)  supposed  to  be  the 
same  as  On,  or  Heliopolis. 

AviM,  a  people  of  Canaan.  8ee  Part  I.  p.  29.  Also  a 
city  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  between  Betliel  and  Parali. 
Josh,  xviii.  23. 

AzEKAH,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judali,  lying  four  leagues 
south-west  of  Jerusalem.  Josh.  xv.  35.  1  Sam.  xvii.  1. 

AzEM,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  "Simeon.  Josh.  xix.  3. 

AzMAVETH,  a  city"  thought  to  be  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  not 
far  from  Jerusalem.  Neh.  xii.  29.  and  vii.  28. 

Aznoth-Tabor,  a  city  which  Eusebius  places  in  the  plain 
not  far  from  Diocesarea.  Josh.  xix.  34. 

AzoTUS.  See  Ashdod.    . 

AZT.K11.  See  Gaza. 


B. 

Baalah,  otherwise  called  Kirjatk-jearim,  (Josh.  xv.  9. 
1  Chron.  xiii.  6.)  a  city  of  Judali,  situated  not  far  west  of 
Jerusalem,  At  this  place  the  ark  was  stationed  for  some 
time.  There  was  also  a  mountain  of  this  name,  (Josh.  xv. 
11.)  probably  the  same  as  Mount  .Tearim. 

Baalatii,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  24.)  Also 
in  the  tribe  of  Dan.  Josh.  xix.  44. 

Baalath-beer,  a  city  of  Simeon.  Josh.  xix.  8. 

Baal-Gad,  a  city  in  the  valley  of  Lebanon,  at  the  foot  of 
IMount  Hermon,  in  the  north-east  part  of  the  Land  of  Canaan. 
(Josh.  xi.  17.  xii.  7.)  The  name  13aal-Gad  means  the  lord  of 
fortune,  or  good  luck,  or  of  a  troop.  This  deity  is  frequently 
represented  on  medals,  sometimes  having  the  name  annexed, 
and  is  usually  feminine.  There  was,  however,  a  male  For- 
tune among  the  ancient  deities,  agreeing  w^tb  the  significa- 
tion of  Baal-Gad. 


BAA 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE. 


No.  1.  A  vessel  in  which  Isisis  spreading  her  veil  for  the  sail; 
Jupiter  Serapisis  directing  the  course  of  the  vessel,  and  Fortune  is 
guiding  it ;  Jupiter  Sera  pis  is  therefore  here  the  Baal-Gad,  or  Lord  of 
Fortune. 


No.  2.  A  female  figure  of  Fortune, 
•displ'aying  many  symbols ;  the  riidder, 
cornucopia,  ears  of  com,  &c.  The 
q-uiyer  on  her  back  allies  her  to  Diana, 
while  the  ornaments  of  her  head  re- 
semble those  of  Isis. 


100 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


BAA 


Baal-h.vzor,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  where  Absalom 
kept  his  flocks.  (2  Sam.  xiii.  23.)  It  lay  between  Bethel  and 
Jericho,  eight  miles  from  Jerusalem. 

Baal-hermon,  a  mountain  in  the  north  of  Canaan,  rif-  -the 
boundary  of  the  country,  the  exact  situation  of  which  r  not 
known.  Some  suppose  it  to  be  part  of  Mount  Hermon,  (  /  that 
it  was  a  temple  of  the  idol  Baal,  on  Hermon.  Judg.  iii.  3.  1 
Chron.  v.  23. 

Baal-meon,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  (Numb,  xxxii. 
38.)  It  was  taken  from  Reuben  by  the  Moabites,  who  were 
masters  of  it  in  the  days  of  Ezekiel,  (xxv.  9.)  and  seems  to 
hav^e  been  a  place  of  some  importance  in  the  time  of  the  Mac- 
cabees, 

Baal-peor,  an  idol  of  the  Moabites.  See  Part  I.  p.  54. 

Baal-perazi3I,  the  place  where  David  put  the  Philistines 
to  flio-ht.  (2  Sam.  v.  20.)  It  lay  near  the  valley  of  Rephaim, 
or  Giants,  about  4  m.iles  south-v.-est  from  Jerusalem ;  and  ia 
probably  the  Mount  Perazim  of  Isaiah,  xxviii.  21. 

Baal-shalisha,  (2  Kings  iv.  42.)  a  place  situated,  according 
to  Jerom  and  Eusebius,  in  the  tribe  of  Simeon  or  Dan,  15  miles 
north  of  Diospolis. 

The  Hebrew  word  Banl-ahalisha, 
means  the  fhird  idol,  or  the  deitij 
of  three,  a  triple  divinity.  Tlje 
idea  of  triphcate  deities  was  com- 
mon among  the  ancients,  as  is  pro 
ved  by  ancient  medals  ofdiflerent 
countries.  The  annexed  figure  re- 
presents this  emblem  as  it  exists 
in  the  very  ancient  Hindoo  tempio 
at  Elephanla,  near  Bombay. 

This  image  is  undeislood  to  im- 
ply the  divinity  in  his  creative, 
[)reservalive,  and  destructive,  or 
rather  regenerative  capacities. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  extraorili 
nary  works  of  art,  of  colossal  size, 
and  immensely  laborious  workmansliip. 

Baal-tamar,  the  place  of  an  engagement  between  tJie  Is- 
raelites and  the  tribe  of  Benjamin;  situated,  according  to  Eu- 
sebius, near  Gibeali.  (Judges  xx.  33.)  This  Hebrew  name 
means  the  idol  of  the  pahn-lrccs,  probably  so  named  from  tlie 
Canaanites  here  worshipping  Baal  in  a  grove  of  palm-trees. 

Baal-zepuon,  a  place  near  the  western  extremity  of  the 
Red  Sea.  Sec  Part.  I.  p.  43. 


BAB  DICTIONARY   OF  THE   BIBLE.  101 

Babel,  a  famous  tower,  built  in  the  land  of  Shinar.  See  Part 
I  p.  14. 

Babylon,  the  capital  city  of  Chaldea,  at  first  called  Babel, 
was  built  by  Nimrod,  (Gen.  x;  10.)  in  the  place  where  the 
tower  of  Babel  was  begun,  and  was  probably  the  first  city 
built  after  the  flood.  Its  early  history  is  very  obscure,  and  the 
accounts  of  heatlien  writers  respecting  it,  quite  contradictory. 

This  city  was  much  enlarged  and  adorned  by  Semiramis, 
wife  of  Ninus,  who,  it  is  believed,  was  the  son  and  successor 
of  Nimrod ;  but  it  was  most  improved  in  extent  and  splendour 
by  Nebuchadnezzar,  who  gloried  himself  much  upon  what  he 
had  done  for  it.  (Dan.  iv.  30.)  It  was  then  called  Babylon, 
and  for  extent  and  magnificence  was  the  wonder  of  the 
world. 

According  to  ancient  writers,  it  was  at  least  forty-five  miles 
in  circumference,  and  was  built  on  both  sides  of  the  river 
Euphrates,  in  the  shape  of  a  square.  It  had  25  principal 
streets  running  each  way  through  its  w^hole  length,  intersect- 
mg  each  other,  and  thus  dividing  the  city  into  625  squares. 
The  walls  of  the  city  were  prodigious,  being,  according  to  the 
most  moderate  accounts,  75  feet  high,  and  32  feet  broad ;  but 
Herodotus,  a  Greek  historian,  Vv'ho  visited  Babylon,  says  they 
were  350  feet  in  height,  and  87  feet  in  breadth  or  thickness ; 
extending  in  compass  round  the  city  a  length  of  60  miles. 
These  walls  Vv^ere  built  of  brick,  cemented  with  bitumen,  and 
had  around  them  a  deep  ditch,  filled  with  water,  the  sides  of 
which  were  lined  with  brick  walls ;  as  were  also  the  sides  of 
the  river  where  it  flowed  through  the  city.  In  every  side  of 
this  great  square,  at  the  entrance  into  the  25  streets,  were  25 
gates,  making,  in  all,  a  hundred,  which  were  made  of  solid 
brass ;  and  between  every  two  of  these  gates  were  three  tow- 
ers. A  bridge,  five  furlongs  in  length,  and  thirty  feet  wide, 
connected  the  two  parts  of  the  city,  which  lay  one  on  each 
side  of  the  river ;  and  at  each  end  of  this  bridge  was  a  palace. 
It  is  even  said  that  there  was  a  subterraneous  passage  under 
the  bed  of  the  river,  from  one  of  these  palaces  to  the  other. 

In  the  midst  of  the  city  stood  a  magnificent  temple,  dedi- 
cated to  Belus,  or  Bel ;  and  in  the  middle  of  this  temple  was 
a  stupendous  tower,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  same 
tower,  or  part  of  it,  Vv^hich  was  left  unfinished  at  the  confusion 
of  tongues.  Jt  was  probably  afterwards  resumed  and  com- 
pleted, and  a  prodigious  city  built  around  it.  This  tower  was 
in  the  form  of  a  pyramid,  with  a  square  base,  each  side  being 
12 


102 


SCRIPTrRE   GEOGRAPHY. 


BAB 


''^M^. 
9^' 


500  feet,  and  the  height  was  about  the  same.  On  the  top  was 
a  statue  of  Belus,  40  feet  high.  This  tower  was  built  of 
bricks,  cemented  with  bitumen.  The  temple  around  this  tow- 
er was  erected  by.Nebuchadnezzar,  and  was  a  mile  in  circum- 
ference ;  it  was  surrcJunded  by  a  wall,  in  which  were  several 
gates,  all  of  brass.  It  is  supposed  that  the  brazen  sea,  the 
brazen  pillars,  and  the  vessels  of  brass,  which  were  carried 
from  the  temple  of  Jerusalem,  were  used  in  making  these 
gates;  for' we  read  in  Scripture  that  Nebuchadnezzar  put  all 
the  sdcred  vessels  which  he  carried  from  Jerusalem,  into  the 
house  of  his  god  at  Babylon,  that  is,  into  this  housQ  or  temple 
of  Bel.  The  image  or  statue  of  Bel,  on  the  top  of  the  tower, 
■was  probably  Nebuchadnezzar's  golden- image  mentioned  in 
Daniel.  There  were  also  in  this  temple  many  other  statues 
and  images  of  gold,  all  of  which  made  it  so  rich,  that  on  the 
return  of  Xerxes  from  his  expedition  into  Greece,  he  plunder- 
ed it,  and  laid  it  in  ruins.  Alexander  the  Great,  afterwards 
wishing  to  restore  it,  employed  ten  thousand  men  during  two 
months  in  clearing  away  and  removing  the  rubbish,  but  the 
undertaking  was  found  to  be  too.  great,  and  he  was  forced  to 
abandon  it. 

This  great  city  was  taken  and  destroyed  by  Cyrus,  king  of 
Persia,  in  a  manner  remarkably  corresponding  vTiih  the.  pro- 
phecies. (Isa.  xiii.  17.  xxi.  2.xlv.  1-4.  Jer.  xxv.  11,  12.  1.  24. 
38.  li.  11.  36.  39.  57.)  Thus  the  glory  of  Babylon  has  passed 
away,  according  to  the  word  of  the  Lord,  so  tliat  it  has  even 
been  difficult  in  modern  times  to  discover  the  place  where  it 


stood.  Travellers  iiave,  however,  discovered,  about  three 
miles  north  of  Hilleh,  a  town  near  the  Euphrates,  47  miles 
fouth  of  Bagdad,  immense  masses  of  ruins,  mastly  composed 


BEE  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  103 

of  bricks  cemented  with  bitumen,,  and  extending  over  a  con- 
siderable space.  Among  these  ruins  appear  the  remains  of  a 
vast  monument,  which  is-  supposed  to  have  been  the  great 
tower. 

The  bricks  of  these  ruins  are  dag  up  and  carried  aw'ay  by 
the  natives,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  their  buildings ;  and 
it  is  said  that  the  town  of  Hilleh,  containing  ten  or  twelve 
thousand  inhabitants,  has  been  mostly  built  of  them.  Many 
of  these  bricks  contain  unlmown  inscriptions,  and  are  in  size 
generally  about  a  foot  square  and  three  inchcis  thick.  These 
ruins  are  now  so  much  mfested  by  venomous  reptiles  and 
wild  beasts,  as  to  be  dangerous  of  access. 

There  was  also  another  city  called  Babj^lon,  situated  in 
Egypt,  on  the  Nile,  not  far  from  Cairo. 

Babylonia,  the  country  round  the  famous  city  of  Babylon, 
comprising  the  greater  part  of  Chaldea,  situated  in  the  north- 
east of  Arabia,  on  both  sides  of  the  river  Euphrates.  The  do- 
minion of  Babylonia,  as  an  independent  empire,  may  be  said 
to  begin  wath  Nabopolassar,  the  father  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
who  rendered  it  independent  of  Assyria  in  the  year  626  before 
Christ.  Under  his  son,  Nebuchadnezzar,  it  became  very 
powerful ;  he  took  Jerusalem,  carried  the  Jews  into  captivity, 
and  subdued  Egypt.  But  this  power  was  not  of  long  dura- 
tion ;  for  in  the  year  538  before  Christ,  Cyrus,  king  of  Persia, 
took  Babylon,  and  put  an  end  to  the  empire. 

Bahurim,  a  village  near  Jerusalem,  in  the  tribe  of  Benja- 
min, on  the  road  to  Jordan.  Here  Shirnei  cursed  David,  and 
threw  stones  at  him..     2  Sam.  xvi.  5.    xvii.  18. 

Bamoth,  one  of  the  encampments  of  the  Israelites. 
(Numb.  xxi.  19,  20.)  Eusebius  says  it  was  a  city  of  Moab, 
upon  the  river  Arnon. 

Bamoth-baal,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  east  of  Jordan. 
Josh.  xiii.  17. 

Bascama,  or  Basra,  a  town  in  the  tribe  cf  Judah,  where 
Jonathan  Maccabeus  w^as  killed.  1  Mace.  xiii.  23. 

Bashan,  the  kingdom  of  Og.     See  Part  I.  p.  58. 

Bealoth,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.     Josli.  xv.  24. 

Beer,  the  name  of  a  city  (Judg.  ix.  21.)  four  Icp-r^ues  from 
Jerusalem,  m  the  way  to  Shechem.  The  wcti  leer,  in  He- 
brew, signifies  a  well. 

Beer-elim,  the  well  of  the  minces.  Isa.  tv.  8.  Numb, 
xxi.  18. 

Beer-lahai-roi.     See  Part  I.  p.  34. 


104 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


BER 


Beeroth,  a  city  of  the  Gibeonites,  afterwards  yielded  to 
the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  (Josh.  ix.  17.  2  Sam.  iv.  2.)  Eusebius 
places  it  seven  miles  from  Jerusalem,  in  the  way  to  Nicopo- 
lis.  Near  it  is  a  fountain  of  excellent  water,  whence  probably 
it  received  its  name,  the  wells. 

Beeroth  was  also  a  station  of  the  Israelites,  (Deut.  x.  6.) 
north  of  Ezion-gaber. 

Beer-sheba,  the  well  of  the  oath.     See  Part  I.  p.  34. 

Bela,  or  Zoar,  a  city  near  Sodom.     See  Part  I.  p.  31. 

^ENE-BERAK,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Dan.  Josh.  xix.  45. 

Benb-jaakan,  a  station  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness, 
(Numb,  xxxiii.  31.)  probably  the  same  as  Beeroth.  (Deut. 
X.  6.)  Be^oth  beni  Jaakan,  the  wells  of  the  sons  of  Jaakan. 

Benjamin,  one  of  the  tribas  of  Israel.     See  Part  I.  p.  64. 

Beon,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  (Numb,  xxxii.  3.) 
probably  the  same  called  Bean  in  1  Mace.  v.  4. 

Berea,  a  city  in  the  south  of  Macedonia,  westward  from 
Thessalonica,  where  Paul  preached  with  success,  and  whose 
inhabitants  are  commended  for  receiving  the  word  with  all 
readiness  of  mind,  and  diligently  searching  the  Scriptures. 
Acts  xvii.  10,  11. 


# 

/4 

MIMJ  V  V 

XNinvx' 

A  medal  of  Berea,  remarkable  for  the  inscription,  koix.  .maIvE.  b. 
NEC.  BERAiON,  referring  to  the  secnnd  MaceJonia ;  and  for  the  dale  Eoc, 
thought  to  be  275  from  the  battle  of  Pliarsalia,  or  the  Julian  era  of 
Reme  706.  This  date  falls  in  the  sixth  year  of  Alexander  Severiis; 
and  the  head  of  Alexander  the  Great  on  this  medal,  was  probably  in 
compliment  to  this  emperor,  who  was  born  in  a  temple  of  Alexander, 
at  Arec.  in  Phenicia,  or  Cscsarea  Libanus,  and  from  that  cirtuiiistance 
adopted  Alexander  a?  his  tutelary  deity. 

This  is  the  only  Macedonian  medal  which  has  snch  a  date,  and  the 
only  one  of  this  period  inscribed  with  the  name  of  the  city  where  it 
was  struck;  these  circumstances,  and  those  mentioned  above,  appear 
to  mark  a  dislinciion  attached  to  lliis  city,  whose  inhabitants  are  styled 
in  Scripture  noble  Bercans. 


BFr 


*:^*.4 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE. 


105 


Bered,  a  place  in  Palestine,  not  far  from  Gaza,  and  near 
the  well  where  Hagar  rested  when  frying  from  her  mistress. 
Gen.  XV i.  14. 

Berytus,  probably  the  place  called  in  Scripture  Berothai, 
(2  Sam.  viii.  8.  Ezek.  xlvii.  16.)  an  ancient  city  in  Phenicia, 
on  the  Mediterranean,  fifty  miles  north  of  Sidon.  It  is 
thought  that  Baat-berith,  (Judg.  viii.  33.)  was  the  deity  wor- 
shipped at  Berytus,  and  thence  introduced  into  the  Land  of 
Israel.  It  appears  by  ancient  medals  of  this  place,  that  Cas- 
tor and  Pollux,  Hercules,  Neptune,  Astarte,  and  various  other 
deities,  were  worshipped  here. 


No.  1.  A  medal  of  Bery'tus,  representing  rVeptune  in  his  marine  car. 
drawn  by  four  sea-hoi-ses.  He  hoMs  in  his  right  hand  a  dolphin,  in  his 
left  a  Indent.     Keptxine  was  the  tutelary  deity  of  Beryfjis. 

No.  2.  Astarle  in  her  tempie,  crowned  bv  a  fignre  of  Vict-ory  stand 
ing  on  a  pillar;  on  eacli  side  of  her,  a  figure  holding  a  wreath  ;  on  the 
top  of  the  temple,  trophies.  Suidas  tefls  lis  that  the  Aslarte  of  the 
Syrians  is  called  Venus  by  the  Greeks. 

Besor,  a  brook  or  river  which  fills  into  the  Mediterranean, 
south  of  Gaza.  This  is  thought  to  be  the  river  of  the  wilder- 
ness, (Amos  vi.  14.)  and  is  perhaps  the  stream  called  the  river 
of  Egypt,  (Josh.  XV.  4.)  and  several  other  places  of  Scripture. 
See  Fart  I.  p.  32. 

Betah,  (2  Sam.  viii.  8.)  a  city  of  Syria,  probably  the  same 
as  Beten,  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Asher.  Josh.  xix.  25. 

Beth-abara,  a  place  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Jordan, 
where  John  baptized,  (John  i.  28.)  and  as  the  name  signifies 
the  house  of  passage,  some  have  thought  it  w^as  the  place 
U'here  the  Israelites  under  Joshua  crossed  the  Jordan ;   but 


106  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  BET 

others  think  it  was.  the  place  where  Jacob  crossed  that  river, 
Eusebius  says  t]iat  many  in  his  time  were  zealous  to  be  bap- 
tized at  this  place,  as  it  was  supposed  to  be  the  spot  where 
John  baptized  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Bethanath,  a  city  of  Naphtali.  Josh.xix.  88. 

Bethany,  a  village  situated  at  the  mount  of  Olives,  about 
two  miles  east  of  Jerusalem.  This  was  the  abode  of  Martha 
and  Mary,  with  their  brother  Lazarus,  whom  Jesus  raised 
from  the  dead ;  (John  xi.  18.)  and  here  Mai-y  anointed  the  feet 
of  our  Lord.  Bethany  is  now  a  small  village,  where  is  yet 
shown  to  travellers  an  old  riiin,  said  to  be  the  house  where 
Lazarus  and  his  sisters  dwelt;  also  near  this  is  his  sepulchre, 
which  is  held  in  great  veneration  by  the  Turks,  and  used  by 
them  as  a  place  for  prayer.  Not  far  from  this  the^'  show  the 
house  of  Mary  Magdalene,  and  the  fountain  of  the  apostles, 
so  called  because  they  were  accustomed  to  refresh  there  ;  this 
fountain  is  near  the  road  side,  and  very  inviting  to  the  thirsty 
traveller. 

Beth-arabah,  a  city  in  the  border  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  6.) 
Dclonging  to  the  tribe  of  Benjamiii,  (xviii.  22.) 

Betharam,  or  Betharan,  (Numb,  xxxii.  36.  Josh.  xiii.  27.3 
a  fenced  city  east  of  Jordan,  in  the  tribe  of  Gad. 

Bethaven,  the  same  as  Bethel.  This  is  the  place  where 
Jeroboam  set  up  his  golden  calves,  wdience  it  is  called  by  the 
prophet  Hosea;  XivJ'15.)  in/derision,  Bcth-'oven,  the  house  of 
vanity,  instead  of  Bethel,  the  house  of  God.    ,; 

Beth-bara,  (Judges  vii.  24.)  supposed  to  be  the  same  as 
Bethabara.     •.    - 

Beth-basi,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judab,  fortified  by^imon 
and  Jonathan  Maccabeus,  (1  INIacc.  ix.  62.)  and  where  Bac- 
chides  besieged  them  without  success. 

Beth-bhiei,  a  city  of  Simeon.  1  Chron.  iv.  31. 

Beth-car,  a  city  of  Dan,  to  which  the  Israelites  pursued 
the  Philistines,  and  near  which  Samuel  set  up  a  stone  whicii 
he  called  Ebenezer. 

Beth-dagon,  the  house  or  temple  of  Dafron,  a  city  of  Ca- 
naan in  the  tribe  of  Judah ;  probably  so  called  because  here 
was  a  temple  of  the  idol  of  Dagon,  before  the  country  was 
conquered  by  the  Israelites.  (Josh.  xv.  41.)  Tliere  was  also 
a  city  of  this  name  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Ashcr.  Josii. 
xix.  27. 

Bethel,  a  city  near  the  boundary  between  tlic  tribes  of 


BET  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  107 

Benjamin  and  Ephraim,  situated  about  eight  miles  north  of 
Jerusalem.    See  Part  I.  p.  28. 

Beth-emek,  a  city  near  the  southerii  boundary  of  the  tribe 
of  Asher.  Josh.  xix.  27.    • 

Betiier;  mountains  of  this  name  are  mentioned  in  the 
Song  of  Solomon,  (ii.  17.  and  viii.  14.)  In  the'  latter  place,  it 
is  translated  "  mountains  of  spices.''  It  is  uncertain  what 
mountains  are  meant  by  this  name ;  some  take  it  to  mean 
Bethoron,  called  Bether  by  Eusebius.  This  place  is  frequent- 
ly mentioned  m  old  Hebrew  writings,  and  is  memorable  for  a 
terrible  slaughter  of  the  Jews  in  the  time  of  the  emperor 
Adrian,  during  the  rebellion  of  Bardbchebas,  when  it  is  said 
that  the  number  of  dead  bodies  was  so  great,  that  the  blood 
ran  from  them  four  miles  to  the  sea. 

Bethesda,  the  house  of  mercy,  or  the  house  of  effusion,  a 
pool  near  the  sheep-market  at  Jerusalem,  having  live  porches, 
piazzas,  or  covered  walks  around  it.  (John  v.  2.)  Here  an  im- 
potent mail,  w^ho  had  been  so  for  thirty-eight  years,  was  cured 
by  our  Lord.  The  healing  virtues  of  this  pool  are  said  by 
Tertullian  to  have  ceased  after  the  Jews  rejected  Christ. 
According  to  Mr.  Maundrel,  a  late  traveller  who  visited  this 
place,  the  pool  is  now  dry ;  but  the  basin  or  pit  which  contained 
the  water  remains,  and  is  120  yards  long,  forty  broad,  and 
eight  "deep.  At  one  end  are  some  ancient  arches,  which  the 
people  say  w^ere  the  porches  where  the  multitude  of  lame, 
halt,  and  blind,  were  accustomed  to  sit  while  they  w^aited  for 
the  moving  of  the  waters. 

Beth-ga>iul,  a  city  of  the  Moabites  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben. 
Jer.  xlviii.  23. 

Betii-haccerem,  a  city  between  Jerusalem  and  Tekoah, 
noted  for  its  vineyards.  Jer.  vi.  1.    Neh.  iii.  14. 

Beth-hoglah,  a  place  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  6.) 
which,  according  to  Eusebius,  was  eight  miles  from  Gaza. 
St.  Jerom  mentions  a  place  of  this  name,  eight  miles  from 
Jordan,  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  Josh,  xviii.  21. 

Beth-horox,  places  m  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  See  Part  L 
p.  56. 

Beth-jesimotk,  a  city  in  the  plams  of  Moab,  east  of  Jor- 
dan, v/here  the  Israelites  encamped.  See  Part  I.  p.  49. 

Beth-lebaoth,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Simeon, 
(Josh.  xix.  6.)  called  Lehaoth,  among  the  cities  first  given  to 
Judah,  (chap.  xv.  32.) 

Bethlehem,  a  city  situated  six  miles  south  of  Jerusalem, 


108  SCniPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  BEl 

otherwise  called  Ephratb  or  Ephratah,  sometimes  Bethlehem- 
Epliratal],  and  sometimes  Bcthlehem-Judah,  to  disting-uish  it 
from  another  place  called  Betlilehem,  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon. 
This  city  was  not  considerable  for  its  extent  or  riches ;  bat 
was  remarkable  for  beinjr  the  birth-place  of  our  blessed 
Saviour,  as  well  as  that  of  king-  David,  from  whom  the  Sa- 
viour descended,  according-  to  the  flesh.  Ibn  Haukal,  a  Ma- 
hometan writer,  speaking  of  Bethlehem,  says, "  Here  Jesus,  on 
whom  be  peace !  was  born  of  his  mother." 


Mew  of  Bethlelicm. 

Bethlehem  is  situated  upon  the  declivity  of  a  hill,  and  Is 
generally  visited  by  pilgrims.  It  has  been  constantly  hon- 
oured by  Christians  of  all  nations,  on  account  of  its  being-  the 
place  where  Jesus  Christ  was  born ;  and  here,  at  the  present 
day,  is  shown  the  manger  in  which  it  is  said  he  was  laid  ;  also, 
a  grotto  in  a  rock,  where,  according  to  tradition,  the  Blessed 
Virgin  hid  lierself  and  the  divine  babe  from  the  malice  of 
Herod,  before  tiieir  departure  into  Egypt.  They  also  show, 
about  half  a  mile  eastward,  t]ie  field  where  it  is  said  the 
shepherds  were  watching  their  flocks,  when  they  received  the 
glad  tidings  cf  the  birth  of  Christ, 

About  the  distance  of  an  hour  and  a  quarter's  journey  south- 
ward from  Bethlehem,  are  still  shown  the  famous  fountains, 
pools,  and  gardens,  which  are  said  to  have  been  the  delight 
of  king  Solomon,  and  to  which  he  is  supposed  to  allude  in 
Eccles.  ii.  5,  C, 


BET  DICTIONAUY  OF  THE   BIBLE.  109 

The  pools  are  three  in  number,  lying  one  above  another,  so 
that  the  waters  descend  from  the  highest  into  the  one  next 
below  it,  and  from  it  into  the  third.  The  breadth  of  each  is 
about  nmety  paces  ;  but  they  differ  in  length,  the  first  being 
160  paces,  the  second  200,  and  the  third  220.  They  are  all 
jined  with  wails  which  are  plastered,  and  contain  a  great 
depth  of  water.  The  spring  or  fountain  which  supplies  them 
with  water  is  about  140  paces  distant.  This  the  friars  of 
Bethlehem  insist  is  the  sealed  fountain,  to  which  reference 
is  made  in  Scripture,  (Songs  iv.  12.)  and  they  say  there  is  a 
tradition  that  Solomon  shut  up  these  springs,  and  kept  the 
door  of  them  sealed  with  his  signet,  that  he  might  preserve 
their  water  for  his  own  drinking,  in  their  natural  freshness 
and  purity.  This  would  not  be  difficult,  as  they  rise  under 
ground,  and  have  no  avenue  to  them  but  by  a  little  hole  like 
the  mouth  of  a  narrow  well.  Through  this  hole,  a  person  may 
descend  about  four  yards ;  he  then  arrives  in  a  vaulted  room 
ahout  fifteen  paces  long,  and  eight  broad,  adjoining  to  which 
is  another  of  the  same  form,  but  not  quite  so  large.  Both 
those  rooms  are  covered  with  stone  arches,  very  ancient,  and 
perhaps  truly  the  work  of  king  Solomon.  From  these  springs 
the  water  is  conveyed  in  earthen  pipes,  by  many  turnings  and 
windings  about  the  mountains,  to  Jerusalem.  These  pools 
are  more  likely  to  be  those  of  Solomon,  from  the  fact  that 
there  is  not  such  another  store  of  spring-water  anywhere  else 
tliroughout  all  the  Holy  Land. 

On  the  west  of  Bethlehem  is  shown  the  well  of  David,  so 
called  from  being  supposed  to  be  that  whose  waters  he  so  pas- 
sionately desired.  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  15.)  A  little  distance  beyond 
this,  are  the  remains  of  an  aqueduct,  which  formerly  conveyed 
the  water  from  Solomon's  pools  to  Jerusalem.  This  is  con- 
structed of  stones  perforated  and  let  into  each  other,  secured 
with  cement  to  prevent  leaks,  and  is  exceedingly  firm  and 
durable.  This  row  of  stone  pipes  was  covered  for  security 
with  a  case  of  smaller  stones  laid  over  it,  in  very  strong  mor- 
tar. But  the  Turks  have  shown,  in  this  instance,  that  nothing 
can  be  so  well  wrought  but  they  are  able  to  damage  or  de- 
stroy it ;  for  of  this  strong  aqueduct,  carried  fifteen  or  eighteen 
miles  with  such  vast  expense  and  labour,  you  see  now  only 
here  and  there  a  fragment  remaining. 

Bethlehem  is  at  present  a  considerable  place,  from  which 
is  a  delightful  prospect,  bemg  surrounded  v/ith  hills  and  val- 
leys. It  has  several  fine  streets,  and  a  church  in  the  form  of 
K 


110  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  BET 

a  cross,  erected  by  the  famous  Helena :  here  are  also  several 
chapels,  and  convents  of  Latins,  Greeks,  and  Armenians. 
The  complexion  of  the  inhabitants  is  very  dark,  almost  ap- 
Droachino-  to  black.  The  country  around  is  abundant  in 
grapes,  figs,  and  other  fruits,  which  are  the  principal  suppor": 
of  the  inhabitants. 

Beth-meon,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  belonjring  to  the 
Moabites,  (Jer.  xiviii.  23.)  probably  the  same  as  Baal-meon, 
(Numb,  xxxii.  38.)  Many  of  the  cities  in  this  region  were 
probably  repossessed  by  the  Moabites  after  the  ten  tribes  had 
been  carried  captive  into  Assyria ;  and  hence  Jeremiah  repre< 
eents  them  as  cities  of  the  Moabites. 

Beth-nimrah,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Gad,  (Josh.  xlii.  27  f 
called  Nimrah  in  Numb,  xxxii.  3. 

Beth-palet,  (Josh.  XV.  27.)  or  Beth-phelet,  (Neh.  xi.  26.) 
a  city  in  the  soutli  of  the  tribe  of  Judah,  given  afterwards  to 
Simeon. 

Beth-pazzez,  a  city  of  Issachar.  Josh.  xix.  21. 

Beth-peor,  See  Baal-peor. 

Beth-phage,  the  house  of  figs,  a  small  village  near  Mount 
Olivet,  and,  as  it  seems,  somewhat  nearer  to  Jerusalem  than 
Bethany.  (Luke  xix.  29.)  The  Jewish  Talmudists  say  that 
a  Bethphage  w^as  within  the  walls  of  Jerusalem  ;  but  this  was 
probably  a  place  in  the  city  where  figs  were  sold,  or  a  street 
might  be  so  called  which  led  to  the  village  which  produced 
figs,  without  the  city.  The  distance  from  Jerusalem  to  the 
village  of  Bethpliage  is  computed  to  be  fifteen  furlongs. 

Beth-saida,  the  house  of  fishing,  a  city  situated  at  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  Lake  of  Gennesareth,  or  Sea  of 
Galilee,  near  where  the  Jordan  enters  it:  a  situation  very 
convenient  for  fishing,  as  its  name  implies ;  and  accordingly 
we  find  the  apostles  Peter  and  Andrew,  inhabitants  of  this 
place,  were  fishermen  by  trade.  It  is  frequently  mentioned 
in  the  New  Testament,  but  not  in  the  Old ;  as  Josephus  tells 
us  it  was  but  a  small  village  until  Philip  the  tetrarcli  render- 
ed it  a  magnificent  city,  and  named  it  Julias,  out  of  respect 
to  Julia,  tlie  daughter  of  Augustus  Ctosar.  The  woe  denounced 
against  it  by  our  Saviour,  (Matt.  xi.  2L)  has  long  since  come 
upon  it,  being  now  reduced  to  the  state  of  a  poor  village,  con- 
taining but  five  or  si.x  mean  cottages. 

Beth-shan,  a  city  in  tlie  half  tribe  of  JNIanasseh,  west  of 
Jordan,  about  twelve  miles  south  of  the  sea  of  Galilee.  (Josh, 
xvii.   11.   2  Sam.  xxi.  12.)    This  city  was  called  by  tlie 


BEZ  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  Ill 

Greeks  Scythopolis,  or  the  city  of  the  Scytliians,  from  some 
remarkable  occurrence  supposed  to  have  taken  place  when 
that  people  invaded  Syria.  It  is  said  to  have  been  75  miles 
from  Jerusalem.  (2  Mace.  xii.  29.)  It  continued  to  be  a  con- 
siderable city  in  the  days  of  Eusebius  and  Jerom,  in  the  fourth 
century.  It  is  now  called  Bysan,  and  consists  of  70  or  80 
houses,  whose  inhabitants  are  represented  by  modern  travel- 
lers to  be  in  a  miserable  condition,  from  the  depredations  of 
the  Bedouin  Arabs.  Tlie  ruins  of  the  ancient  city  still  re- 
main, and  shov/  that  it  was  nearly  three  miles  in  circuit. 

BETH-bHEJiESH,  the  Jiouse  of  the  sun,  probably  so  named 
from  the  worship  paid  here  to  that  luminary  by  the  Canaanites. 
— A  city  of  Judah,  30  miles  west  of  Jerusalem,  given  to  the 
Levites.  (Josh.  xxi.  16.)  Here  50,000  persons  were  destroy- 
ed for  profanely  looking  mto  the  ark,  which  was  brought  by 
the  kine,  when  sent  away  by  the  Philistines.  (1  Sam.  vi.  19.) 
Other  cities  of  this  name  are  also  mentioned  in  the  tribes  of 
Naphtali  and  Issachar. 

Bethshemesh  in  Egypt,  was  the  same  as  On,  called  by  the 
Greeks  Heliopolis.  >S'ee  Fart  I.  p.  39. 

Beth-tappuah,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  53.)  situated  in 
the  way  to  Egypt,  near  the  wilderness  of  Paran. 

Bethulia,  a  city  celebrated  for  being  besieged  by  Holo- 
fernes,  and  where  he  was  killed  by  Judith,  (Judith  vii.)  sup- 
posed to  have  been  situated  in  the  west  of  Zebulon,  near 
the  sea. 

Beth-zur,  or  Beth-sura,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of 
Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  58.)  It  was  one  of  the  cities  fortified  by 
Rehoboam ;  (2  Chron.  xi.  7.)  and  appears  to  have  been  a 
place  of  great  strength,  bemg  on  the  frontier  of  Judah  towards 
Edom.  Here  Lysias,  the  regent  of  Syria,  under  Antiochus 
Epiphanes,  was  defeated  by  Judas  IMaccabeus,  with  a  loss  of 
eighteen  thousand  men.  Beth-sura  is  said,  in  2  Mace.  xi.  5, 
to  be  only  five  furlongs  from  Jerusalem ;  but  this  must  have 
been  a  mistake :  Eusebius  makes  it  twenty  miles  from  that 
city,  in  the  way  towards  Hebron,  Vv'hich,  in  the  time  of  the 
Maccabees,  was  the  principal  city  of  the  Idumeans.  It  was 
probably  near  Hebron,  but  on  the  Jewish  side  of  the  frontier. 

Betoxim,  a  city  in  the  northern  part  of  the  tribe  of  Gad, 
bordering  on  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan.  Josh.  xiii.  26. 

Bezek,  a  city  of  the  Canaanites,  where  10,000  of  them 
were  slain,  and  Adoni-bezek,  their  king,  taken  prisoner. 
(Judges  i.  4)    Eusebius  and  Jerom  mention  two  towns,  near 


112  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  BOZ 

together,  of  this  name,  seventeen  miles  from  Neapolis  or 
Shechem,  on  the  way  to  Scythopolis  or  Bethshan. 

Bezer,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben,  (Deut.  iv.  43.)  and 
one  of  the  cities  of  refuge.  It  is  usually  styled  "  Bezer  in 
ihe  wilderness,"  or  "in  the  plain;"  implying  its  situation  to 
nave  been  in  a  desert  part  of  the  country,  probably  on  the  side 
of  Arabia. 

BiLEAM,  a  city  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan,  given  to  the 
Levites  of  the  family  of  Kohath.  1  Chron.  vi.  70. 

BiTHYNiA,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor,  stretching  along  the 
southern  shore  of  the  Black  Sea,  from  Mysia  to  Paplilagonia ; 
having  Phrygia  and  Galatia  on  the  south.  In  this  district 
are  situated  the  two  cities  of  Nica;a  or  Nice,  and  Chalcedon, 
both  celebrated  in  ecclesiastical  history,  on  account  of  the 
general  councils  held  in  them.  When  Paul  first  travelled 
towards  Europe,  the  Holy  Ghost  allowed  him  not  to  preach 
here.  (Acts  xvi.  7.)  But  a  clmrch  was  afterwards  establish- 
ed, as  St.  Peter  addresses  his  first  epistle  to  the  Hebrew 
Christians  who  Vv^ere  scattered  tlirougli  this  and  the  neigh- 
bouring countries. 

BocHiM,  a  place  supposed  to  be  near  Jerusalem,  where  an 
angel  reproved  the  Israelites  for  their  breach  of  covenant 
w'.th  God,  in  consequence  of  which  it  was  declared  that  the 
inhabitants  of  the  land  should  remain  as  thorns  in  tlieir  sides. 
On  hearing  this,  the  Israelites  "  lifted  up  their  voice  and 
wept,"  and  called  the  place  Bochim,  which  signifies  iveeping. 
Judges  ii. 

BozRAH,  (Gen.  xxxvi.  33.  Isa.  xxxiv.  6.  and  Ixiii.  1.  Micali 
li.  12.)  a  city  of  Edom,  celebrated  for  its  dyed  garments,  aud 
its  sheep.  It  is  not  known  whether  any  vestige  remains  of  it 
at  the  present  time. 

There  was  another  Bozrah  in  the  land  of  Moab,  (Jer. 
xlviii.  24.)  thought  by  some  to  be  the  same  as  Bezer.  But 
fills  Bozrah  was  probably  the  city  of  that  name,  or  Bostra,  as 
It  is  now  called,  situated  east  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  in  the 
tribe  of  JManassoh ;  and  to  wliich  it  is  probable  the  Moabites 
extended  themselves  when  they  took  possession  of  the  vacant 
cities  of  Israel,  after  tlie  captivity  of  the  ten  tribes.  Bostra 
was  made  a  Roman  colony  by  Trajan,  and  took  tlie  title  of 
Nova  Trajana,  the  new  city  of  Trajan.  This  place  has  been 
visited  by  modern  travellers,  who  describe  its  ruins,  particu- 
larly some  beautiful  columns,  said  to  be  equal  to  those  of 


GiES 


DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE, 


113 


Balbec  or  Palmyra.     In  different  parts  of  these  ruins  are 
found  Cufic,  Greek,  and  Roman  inscriptions. 


A  medal  of  Boslra,  representing  on  one  side  the  head  of  Trajanus 
Decius :  on  the  other  a  female  figure,  witli  her  head  crowned  with  tur- 
rets ;  in  her  right  hand  the  staff  terminating  in  a  cross ;  in  her  left  a 
cornucopia ;  beside  her  a  Silenus  dancing,  with  a  wine-boUle  on  his 
shoulder.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  is  the  goddess  Ashtaroth  or 
Astarte. 


c. 

Cabbon,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  40. 

Cabul,  a  name  given,  by  Hiram,  king  of  Tyre,  to  the 
twenty  cities  which  were  given  him  by  king  Solomon,  as  a  re- 
ward for  the  great  services  he  had  rendered  him  in  building 
the  temple.  (1  Kings  ix.  13.)  Hiram,  not  being  pleased  with 
them,  called  them  Cabul,  which  in  the  Phenician  language 
signilies  dirty  or  displeasing.  They  were  situated  in  Galilee, 
and  probably  not  far  from  Tyre. 

C^SAREA.  There  were  several  cities  of  this  name. 

1.  CcBsarea  Lihanus,  anciently  called  Arce  or  Area.  It  is 
not  known  when  it  took  the  name  of  Csesarea,  or  at  what  time 
it  w^as  made  a  Roman  colony. 


K2 


114 


SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY. 


C^S 


A  medal  of  Csesarea  Libanus,  representing  on  one  side  the  head  of 
Alexander  Severus,  who  was  born  here,  in  the  temple  of  Alexander. 
On  the  reverse  a  tall  figure  of  the  goddess  Astarte,  standing  in  a  temple, 
with  the  emperor  placing  a  crown  on  her  head. 

2.  Ccesarea  Palestina  was  a  city  situated  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean, between  Dor  and  Joppa,  .50  miles  north-west  of  Jeru- 
salem. It  was  built  with  great  beauty  and  convenience  by 
Herod  the  Great,  22  years  before  the  birtli  of  Christ,  and 
named  in  honour  of  Augustus  Caesar.  The  place  before  was 
called  tlie  Tower  of  Straton.  The  harbour  at  this  place  was 
naturally  bad  ;  but  to  remedy  this  defect,  Herod  erected,  at  im- 
mense expense  and  labour,  a  vast  mole  or  breakwater,  built  in  a 
semicircular  form,  of  stones  .50  feet  long  and  13  v.'ide,  which 
were  sunk  in  the  water  where  it  was  120  feet  deep.  Besides 
this,  Herod  added  many  splendid  buildings  of  marble  to  the 
city,  and  fixed  his  residence  there,  tlius  elevating  it  to  the 
rank  of  capital  of  Judea.  It  was  to  this  place  that  St,  Paul 
was  taken,  60  years  after,  to  Felix,  who  was  then  governor. 
(Acts  xxiv.)  Here  also  iVgrippa  was  smitten  by  an  angel  of 
God,  so  that  he  died.  (Acts  xii.  21.)  This  was  tlie  birtJi-place 
of  Eusebius,  tlie  celebrated  historian,  who  was  bishop  of  this 
city  in  the  beginning  of  the  fourth  century.  It  is  now  a 
scene  of  desolate  ruins,  situated  in  a  sandy  desert.  The  waves 
wash  the  ruins  of  the  mole,  the  towers,  and  port  near  the  sea, 
and  not  a  creature,  except  jackals  and  beasts  of  prey,  resides 
within  many  miles  of  this  silent  desolation. 


A  medal  of  Cnesarca  Palestina,  re- 
presenting Astarte  standing  on  an 
altar,  holding  in  her  right  hand  a 
human  head,  in  her  left  a  staff;  on 
her  head  the  sacred  Calathus,  and 
a  sword  by  her  side.  'I'his  is  wi-th- 
in  a  temple,  on  the  balusti-ade  of 
which  is  another  tigure,  apparently 
looking  up  at  the  goddess.  This 
proves  that  the  worship  of  this 
deity  was  practised  here. 


3.  Ccesarea  Philippi  was  first  called  Laish,  or  Leshcm. 
(Judg.  xviii.  7.)  After  it  was  subdued  by  the  Danites,  (verse 
29.)  it  w^as  called  Dan,  and  is  by  heathen  writers  called  Pa- 


CAN  DICTIONARY   OF  THE   BIBLE.  115 

neas.  Philip,  the  youngest  son  of  Herod,  made  it  the  capita, 
of  his  tetrarchy  or  government,  enlarged  and  embellished  it, 
and  gave  it  the  name  of  Csesarea  Philippi.  It  is  situated  at 
the  foot  of  Mount  Hermon,  near  the  head  of  the  Jordan,  and 
is  about  fifty  miles  from  Damascus  and  thirty  from  Tyre. 

Our  Saviour  visited,  tauglit,  and  healed  in  this  place ;  here 
also  he  rebuked  Peter.  (Mark  viii.)  The  woman  whom  he 
healed,  (Matt.  ix.  20.)  it  is  said,  also  lived  in  this  town. 

Calah,  one  of  the  earliest  cities  of  Assyria.  (Gen.  x.  11.) 
It  is  supposed  to  have  been  situated  on  the  river  Lycus,  which 
falls  into  the  Tigris ;  as  on  the  upper  part  of  the  Lycus,  Stra- 
bo  mentions  a  country  called  Calachene,  which  is  conjectured 
to  have  received  its  name  from  this,  its  capital  city.  Dr. 
Wells  supposes  it  to  be  the  same  with  Halah,  or  Chalah,  one 
of  the  cities  into  wliich  Shalmaneser  transplanted  the  people 
of  Israel.  If  so,  it  must  have  been  on  the  river  Gozan,  in 
Media,  instead  of  the  Lycus. 

Calneh,  one  of  the  cities  built  by  Nimrod  in  the  land  of 
Shinar.  See  Part  I.  p.  14. 

Calvary,  called  in  La,tin  Calvaria,  and  in  Hebrew  Golgo- 
tha ;  both  names  unplying  a  skull,  or  the  place  of  skulls,  pro- 
bably so  called  from  its  being  a  place  of  burial.  This  was  a 
small  eminence  or  hill,  on  the  north  of  Mount  Zion,  a.nd  on 
the  western  side  of  Momit  Moriah,  said  to  have  been  200 
paces  outside  of  the  ancient  walls  of  Jerusalem.  On  this 
Mount  our  Lord  suffered  crucifixion,  a  mode  of  punishment 
at  that  tmie  in  general  use  in  the  east.  On  the  summit  of 
Mount  Calvary  stands  a  large  and  irregular  building,  called 
the  Church  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  wiiich  covers  the  spot 
where  our  Lord  suffered,  and  the  sepulchre  in  which  he  was 
laid.  Here  is  shown  the  hole  in  the  rock  in  which  the  cross 
was  fixed ;  and  near  it  the  position  of  the  crosses  of  the  two 
thieves  ;  also  a  cleft  in  the  rock  said  to  have  been  caused  by 
the  earthquake  which  happened  at  the  crucifixion.  The  se- 
pulchre is  about  six  feet  square  and  eight  feet  high,  in  which 
is  a  block  of  stone  said  to  be  that  on  which  the  body  of  our 
Lord  was  placed.  The  church  v/hich  covers  this  spot  has  but 
one  door,  the  keys  of  which  are  kept  by  the  Turks,  who  de- 
mand an  entrance  fee  of  nine  sequins  (about  eight  dollars) 
from  every  foreign  Christian. 

Camon,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan. 
Judges  X.  5. 

Cana,  of  Galilee,  so  called  to  distuiguish  it  from  Cana,  oi 


116  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  CAN 

Kanah,  in  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  28.)  not  far  from 
Sidon,  and  much  farther  north  than  Cana  of  Galilee,  which 
lay  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  eight  miles  north  of  Nazareth.  At 
this  place  Jesus  performed  his  first  miracle,  (John  ii.  12.)  Dr. 
Ckrke  visited  this  place,  and  found  among"  the  ruins  large 
stone  water-pots,  lying  about  in  numbers ;  from  the  appear- 
ance of  which  it  was  evident  that  the  practice  of  keeping  wa- 
ter in  large  stone  pots,  each  holding  from  eighteen  to  twenty- 
seven  gallons,  was  common  in  the  country.  This  place  is 
now  a  village,  almost  deserted.  The  church  built  by  Helena, 
in  the  place  where  the  marriage  feast  was  held,  is  yet  stand- 
ing, and  is  now  a  Turkish  mosque. 

Canaan,  or  Land  of  Canaan,  tJie  country  so  named  from 
having  been  peopled  by  Canaan,  the  son  of  Ham.  ^ee  Part  I. 
p.  26.  This  country  was  nearly  200  miles  in  length,  and  80 
in  breadth.  It  was  bounded  on  the  north  and  north-east  by 
Syria  and  Lebanon ;  on  the  east  by  Arabia  Deserta  and  the 
land  of  the  Ammonites  and  Moabites ;  on  the  south-east  by 
the  country  of  the  Midianites;  south  by  Edom,  or  Idumea ; 
south-west  by  Egypt;  and  on  tlie  west  by  the  Mediterranean 
Sea. 

Of  the  people  originally  inhabiting  this  country,  and  of  its 
conquest  by  the  Israelites,  we  have  treated  in  Part  I.  Those 
of  the  Canaanites  who  remained  in  the  country  after  the  con- 
quest, were  generally  made  tributary  to  the  Israelites ;  but 
great  numbers  left  it,  passing  by  the  way  of  Egypt  into  north- 
ern Africa,  where  they  built  many  cities,  and  spread  them- 
selves over  vast  regions,  until  they  reached  the  straits  of  Gib- 
raltar. St.  Athanasius  relates  that  the  inhabitants  of  this 
part  of  Africa,  in  his  time,  reported  tliemselves  to  be  descended 
from  the  Canaanites  ;  and  it  is  agreed  that  the  Punic  or  Car- 
thaginian language,  was  very  nearly  the  same  with  the  Ca- 
naanitish.  According  to  Procopius,  in  the  ancient  city  of 
Tongis,  in  this  part  of  Africa,  were  two  great  pillars  of  white 
stone,  near  a  large  fountain,  with  the  following  inscription  in 
Punic  characters,  "  We  are  people  preserved  by  flight  from 
that  robber  Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun,  who  pursued  us." 

Tliose  of  the  original  inhabitants  of  Canaan,  who  remained 
after  the  conquest,  were  chiefly  inhabitants  of  the  western 
and  north-western  parts  of  the  country,  along  the  sea-coast, 
particularly  about  Tyre  and  Sidon.  This  was  the  country 
called  by  the  Greeks  Phenicia,  whose  language  was  the 
Punic;  and  froni  T/hich  colonies  were  brought  to  Thebes  in 


GAR  DICTION.UIY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  117 

Greece,  to  Cilicia,  Sardinia,  Sicily,  Malta,  Cyprus,  and  many 
other  places. 

For  a  further  account  of  the  Land  of  Canaan,  under  the 
dominion  of  the  Israelites,  and  of  its  subsequent  and  present 
state,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  article  Judea. 

Canneh,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  23.)  thought  to  be  the  same  as 
Calneh. 

Capernaum,  a  city  on  the  north-western  side  of  tiie  sea  of 
Galilee,  near  tho  border  of  the  tribes  of  Zebulon  and  Naph- 
tali.  (Matt.  iv.  13.)  The  infidelity  and  impenitence  of  the 
inhabitants  of  this  place,  which  was  honoured  by  the  resi- 
dence of  our  Saviour,  and  which  consequently  had  repeated 
evidences  of  the  truth  of  his  mission,  brought  upon  them  a 
heavy  denunciation.  (]\latt.  xi.  23,  24.)  This  sentence  of 
destruction  has  been  fully  realized,  and  the  ancient  city  is 
now  reduced  to  a  state  of  desolation ;  a  few  ruins  only  re- 
maining of  that  city  which  was  once  proudly  ''  exalted  unto 
heaven." 

Caphar-salama,  a  place  not  far  west  of  Samaria,  called 
afterwards  Antipatris.  Here  a  battle  was  fought  between 
Judas  Macc?abeus  and  Nicanor,  in  which  the  latter  was  van- 
quished, and  fled  with  the  loss  of  5000  men.  1  Mace.  vii.  31. 

Caphtor,  the  country  of  the  Caphtorim,  descendants  ol 
Misraim,  son  of  Ham.  See  Part  I.  p.  26 :  also  the  article 
Philistines. 

Cappadocia,  a  country  of  Asia  Minor,  bounded  north  by 
Pontus ;  east  by  the  Euphrates,  which  separated  it  from  Ar- 
menia ;  south-east  and  south  by  Mount  Taurus  and  Cilicia  ; 
and  west  by  Galatia  and  Lycaonia.  In  early  times  this  coun- 
try was  tributary  to  the  Persians,  as  it  was  afterwards  to  the 
Romans,  until  united  as  a  province  to  the  empire  by  Tiberius 
Caesar.  The  inhabitants  of  Cappadocia  were  anciently  noto- 
rious for  their  wickedness;  being,  together  with  the  people 
of  Cilicia  and  Crete,  proverbial  among  the  Greeks  for  their 
bad  character,  (see  Crete;)  but  after  the  introduction  ot 
Christianity  among  them,  it  produced  several  great  and  good 
men,  among  whom  were  Gregory  Nazainzen,  Gregory  Nis- 
sen,  St.  Basil,  and  St.  George,  the  martyr.  This  was  one  of 
the  countries,  to  v/hich  St.  Peter  addressed  his  first  epistle ; 
and  here  Christianity  flourished  until  about  the  ninth  century ; 
nor  is  it  yet  wholly  extinct. 

Carchemish,  a  city  in  Mesopotamia,  upon  the  Euphrates, 
belonging  to  the  kmgdom  of  Assyria.     It  was  taken  by  Pha- 


118  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  CAR 

raoh  Necho,  king  of  Eg-ypt,  and  retaken  by  Nebuchadnezzar, 
(2  Kings  xxiii,  29.  2  Cljron.  xxxv.  20.  Jer.  xlvi.  2.)  and  seems 
to  have  been  a  place  of  considerable  strength  and  importance, 
forming  a  key  to  Assyria  on  its  western  side.  Its  importance 
raay  be  estimated  from  the  fact  of  a  king  of  Egypt  taking  so 
long  and  painful  a  march  to  get  possession  of  it.  It  is  sup- 
posed to  be  the  same  city  whicli  was  afterwards  called  Cir- 
cesium  by  the  Greeks  and  Latins,  and  which  was  situated  at 
the  junction  of  the  Chaboras  with  the  Euphrates.  It  is  called 
at  present  Kirkisia. 

Carmel,  a  city  in  the  southern  pf.rt  of  the  tribe  of  Judah. 
(Josh.  XV.  55.)  This  place  is  noted  in  the  return  of  Saul 
from  his  expedition  against  the  Amalekites,  (1  Sam.  xv.  12.) 
and  was  also  the  native  place  of  Nabal,  the  husband  of  Abi- 
gail. It  was  called  Carmelia  by  the  Romans,  who,  according 
to  Jerom,  had  a  garrison  there  in  his  time.  It  is  situated  ten 
miles  eastward  from  Hebron. 

Carmel,  a  celebrated  mountain  in  the  west  of  the  Land  of 
Canaan,  situated  about  ten  miles  south  of  Accho  or  Ptolemais. 
formmg  a  promontory  on  the  opposite  side  of  a  bay.  Accord- 
ing to  modern  travellers,  it  extends  six  or  eight  miles  nearly 
north  and  south,  coming  from  the  plain  of  Esdraelon,  and 
ending  in  the  promontory  or  cape  which  forms  the  bay  of 
Accho.  Its  elevation  is  about  1500  feet,  and  its  sides  are 
covered  with  trees  and  brambles,  among  which  are  wild  vines 
and  olives,  proving  it  to  have  been  once  cultivated. 

This  mountain  is  celebrated  for  the  miracle  wrought  there 
by  the  prophet  Elijah,  (1  Kings  xviii.)  and  a  cave  is  still 
shown,  where  it  is  said  that  Elijah  desired  Ahab  to  bring 
Baal's  false  prophets,  when  the  fire  descended  from  heaven 
upon  the  burnt  sacrifice.  The  historians  Tacitus  and  Sue- 
tonius both  speak  of  the  god  of  Carmel,  whom  Vespasian 
vi^ent  to  consult  when  he  was  in  Judea ;  and  say  that  there 
was  then  an  altar  there  which  was  venerable  for  its  antiquity. 
This  altar  of  Carmel  had  its  origin  in  the  altar  of  God  which 
had  been  erected  there  by  the  ancient  Hebrews,  and  which 
was  repaired  by  Elijah.  This  altar  the  heathens  afterwards 
held  m  such  veneration,  that  they  even  resorted  to  it  as  an 
oracle. 

There  is  now  a  convent  of  Carmelite  friars  on  this  mount, 
who  say  that  tlieir  habitation  is  in  the  spot  where  the  prophet 
Elijah  resided. 

Car^jaim,  the  horns,   a  city   of  Bashan,   so  called   from 


CHE  DICTIONARY   OF  THE   BIBLE.  119 

the  worship  of  Ashtorath,  the  horned  goddess.  See  Ash- 
tarolh. 

Casiphia,  a  place  to  which  Ezra  sent  messengers  to  Iddo, 
\Ezra  viii.  17.)  It  is  the  opinion  of  Calmet  that  Caspius, 
near  the  Caspian  sea,  in  the  north  of  Media,  where  dwelt 
many  captive  Jews,  is  here  meant ;  but  others  think  that  dis- 
tance too  far  for  sucli  a  mission,  and  suppose  it  was  some 
ulace  nearer  Babylon. 

Casluhim,  the  descendants  of  Casluh,  son  of  Misraim,  wh) 
dwelt  with  the  Caphtorim,  at  the  entrance  of  Egypt  from 
Palestine,  between  Misraim  and  the  Philistim.  See  Part  I 
p.  26. 

Casphin,  or  Caspis,  a  town  west  of  Jerusalem,  not  far 
from  Jamnia ;  it  was  a  strong  place,  situated  on  a  lake,  and 
was  taken  by  Judas  Maccabeus.  2  Mace.  xii.  13. 

Cedron,  a  brook  near  Jerusalem.    See  Kidron. 

Ce.xchrea,  a  port  belonging  to  the  city  of  Corinth,  about 
nme  miles  distant ;  from  which  St.  Paul  sailed  for  Ephesus. 
Acts  xviii.  18. 

Chaldea,  the  country  otherwise  called  Shinar ;  or  Babylo- 
nia, lying  on  both  sides  of  the  Euphrates,  of  which  Babylon 
was  the  capital ;  extending  southward  to  the  Persian  Gulf,  and 
northward  into  Mesopotamia.  It  had  Elam  or  Persia  on  the 
east,  and  Arabia  Deserta  west.  This  country,  and  its  people, 
are  called  in  the  Hebrew  text,  Chasdim,  and  are  generally 
supposed  to  have  derived  their  name  from  Chesed,  a  son  of 
Nahor,  the  brother  of  Abraham.  The  early  history  of  the 
Chaldeans  is  very  obscure ;  they  appear  to  have  been  an  un- 
settled and  predatory  people,  until  collected  together  by  Ni- 
nus,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  son  of  Nimrod  or  Ashur, 
and  brought  under  the  Assyrian  dominion. 

The  Chaldeans  are  renowned  as  the  founders  of  astronomi- 
cal science ;  and  appear  to  have  long  existed  in  Babylonia  as 
a  distinct  race  of  astrologers,  philosophers,  and  priests,  or 
magi,  rather  than  as  a  nation  of  themselves ;  and  as  such  they 
are  found  at  Babylon  in  the  reign  of  Belshazzar,  who,  to- 
gether with  tlie  astrologers  and  soothsayers,  summoned  the 
Chaldeans  to  interpret  the  mysterious  writing  on  the  wall. 

Characa,  a  city  of  the  tribe  of  Gad,  from  which  Judas 
Maccabeus  drove  Timotheus.  2  Mace.  xii.  17. 

Charran,  the  same  as  Haran.      See  Part  I.  p.  30. 

Chebar,  a  river  in  Chaldea,  where  the  prophet  Ezekiel  saw 


220  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  CIL 

several  of  his  visions  ;  probably  the  same  called  afterwards 
Chaboras,  which  rises  in  the  mountains  in  the  upper  part  of 
Mesopotamia,  and,  running  south-west,  empties  into  tlie  Eu- 
phrates near  Carchemish. 

Chelmon,  a  city  opposite  to  Esdraelon,  near  which  Holo- 
fernes  encamped  before  he  went  to  lay  siege  to  Bethulia. 
Judith  vii.  3. 

Chephirah,  a  city  of  the  Gibeonites,  afterwards  belonging 
Co  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  Josh.  ix.  17.  xviii.  26. 

Cherith,  a  brook  near  whicli  the  prophet  Elijah  lay  some- 
time concealed,  to  3,void  the  persecution  of  Jezebel;  and 
where  the  ravens,  every  morning  and  evening-,  brouglit  him 
bread  and  meat.  (1  Kmgs  xvii.  3,  4.)  Tlie  situation  of  this 
brook  is  doubtful ;  probably  it  was  a  western  branch  of  the 
Jordan,  on  the  confines  of  Ephraim  and  Benjamin. 

Chesalon,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  thought  to  be  the 
same  as  Jearim.  Josh.  xv.  10. 

CHESiii,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv. 
30.)  Eusebius  calls  it  Exalus,  and  places  it  in  the  southern 
part  of  Judah. 

Chesulloth,  a  city  of  Zebulon  or  Issachar.  Josh.  xix. 
12.  18. 

Chezib,  See  Aclizih. 

Chios,  an  island  of  the  Grecian  i\rchipelago,  between  Les- 
bos and  Samos,  and  about  four  leagues  from  the  continent, 
opposite  Smyrna.  This  island  was  passed  by  St.  Paul  in  his 
voyage  from  Mytilene  to  Samos.  (Acts  xx.  15.)  It  does  not 
appear  that  any  church  was  established  here  for  a  long  time 
after  the  age  of  the  apostles.  This  island  is  now  called  Scio, 
and  was  extremely  rich  and  beautiful,  until  the  recent  attempt 
of  the  Greeks  to  recover  their  independence.  In  the  course 
of  the  warfare  wdiich  ensued,  Scio  was  attacked  by  the  Turks, 
and  ruthlessly  desolated  with  fire  and  sword. 

Chittim,  the  descendants  of  Chittim,  Kittim,  or  Keth,  the 
third  son  of  Javan,  and  grandson  of  Japhet.    See  Part  I.  p.  19. 

Chorazin,  a  city  near  the  northern  extremity  of  tlie  sea  of 
Galilee,  mentioned  in  the  New  Testament  among  the  cities 
wliere  most  of  our  Saviour's  miracles  liad  been  performed ; 
and  against  which  a  woe  was  denounced  in  consequence  of 
the  unbelief  of  the  inhabitants.  (Matt.  xi.  21.  Luke  x.  13.) 
This  woe  has  been  accomplished ;  for  Chorazin  and  Bethsaida 
are  now  deserted  ruins. 

Cilicia,  a  country  of  Asia  Minor,  supposed  to  have  been 


coo  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  121 

colonized  by  Phenicians,  and  to  have  deiived  its  name  from 
Cilix,  son  of  Agenor,  a  king-  of  Phenicia.  It  was  bounded  on 
the  north  by  Lycaonia  and  Cappadocia ;  on  the  east  by  Syria  ^ 
on  the  south  by  the  IMediterranean  ;  and  on  the  west  by  Pam- 
phylia.  Its  capital  city  was  Tarsus,  famous  as  the  birth-place 
of  the  apostle  Paul.  Cicero  was  proconsul  of  this  province, 
under  the  Roman  government. 

CiNNERETH,  Cliiniierelh,  or  Chinneroth,  a  city  on  the  north- 
western side  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  which,  from  it,  is  frequent- 
ly called  in  the  Old  Testament,  the  sea  of  Cinneroth ;  from 
which  word  that  of  Gennesareth,  in  the  New  Testament, 
was  probably  derived.  This  town  is  thought  by  some  to  have 
been  afterwards  called  Tiberias,  though  the  learned  Reland  is 
of  a  contrary  opinion.  The  city  of  I'iberias  undoubtedly  was 
Bituated  on  the  shore  of  this  sea,  which  is  also  called  the  sea 
of  Tiberias. 

Clauda,  an  island  in  the  Adriatic  sea,  south-west  from 
Crete  ;  near  which  St,  Paul  sailed  in  his  voyage  to  Rome,  in 
the  midst  of  that  tempest  by  which  he  was  shipwrecked  at 
Malta.  Acts  xxvii.  16. 

Cnidus,  a  city  of  Doris  in  Caria,  a  province  in  the  south- 
west of  Asia  Minor,  notorious  for  the  worship  of  Venus, 
whose  famous  statue  by  Praxiteles  stood  here.  Extensive 
ruins  of  this  place  yet  remain.  St.  Paul  passed  it  on  his  voy- 
age as  a  prisoner  to  Rome. 

Ccelo-Syria,  Syria  in  the  vale.,  a  name  applied  particularly 
to  the  valley  lying  between  the  mountainous  ridges,  Libanus 
and  Anti-Libanus ;  but  sometimes  used  in  a  larger  sense  for 
the  whole  country  lying  north-east  of  Canaan  towards  Da- 
mascus. 

CoLOSSiE,  a  city  of  Phrygia,  between  Laodicea  and  Hiera- 
polis  ;  situated,  according  to  Herodotus,  where  the  river  Ly- 
ons disappears,  running  under  ground  about  half  a  mile,  and 
then  rises  again  and  empties  into  the  river  Meeander.  It  is 
mentioned  by  St.  Paul,  with  Laodicea  and  Hierapolis,  (Col. 
iv.  13.)  and,  according  to  Eusebius,  was  destroyed  with  the 
other  two  cities,  by  an  earthquake,  in  the  tenth  year  of  the 
emperor  Nero,  about  a  year  after  the  writing  of  the  epistle 
of  Paul  to  its  inhabitants :  fi'om  which  calamity  it  never  re- 
vived, and  is  now  buried  in  ruins. 

Coos,  an  island  of  the  Archipelago,  lying  near  the  south- 
west point  of  Asia  Minor ;  passed  by  St.  Paul  in  his  voyage 

Li 


122  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  COR 

from  Ephesus  to  Jerusalem.  (Acts  xxi.  1.)  This  island  was  the 
birth-place  of  the  celebrated  physician  Hippocrates,  and  the 
painter  Apelles.  It  is  now  called  Stancho,  and  is  represented 
as  a  beautiful  and  fertile  island,  abounding  in  corn,  fruit,  and 
vegetables.  Grapes,  figs,  oranges,  and  lemons,  are  produced 
m  abundance,  and  numerous  flocks  and  herds  are  scattered 
over  the  plains.  The  population  is  estimated  at  4000 ;  one 
naif  Turks,  and  the  rest  Greeks  and  Jews.  To  each  of  these 
nations  a  distinct  quarter  is  assigned  in  the  town  of  Stancho, 
which  is  the  capital. 

Corinth,  a  celebrated  city  of  Greece,  the  metropolis  oi 
Achaia,  situated  on  the  isthmus  which  joins  the  Peloponne- 
sus, or  Morea,  to  Attica  on  the  continent.  This  city  was  one 
of  the  most  populous  and  wealthy  of  all  Greece,  owing  to  its 
favourable  situation  for  trade.  It  was  destroyed  in  the  year 
146  before  Christ,  by  the  Romans ;  when,  during  the  confla- 
gration, statues  of  various  metals,  in  a  melted  state,  acci- 
dentally running  together,  formed  the  celebrated  composition 
called  j^s  Corinthium,  or  Corinthian  brass,  which  was  ac- 
counted more  valuable  than  gold.  A  hundred  years  after  this 
it  was  rebuilt  by  Julius  Caesar,  who  planted  a  Roman  colony 
there,  and  made  it  the  residence  of  tlie  proconsul  of  Achaia. 
[t  soon  regained  its  former  splendour  and  prosperity,  and  be- 
came the  most  beautiful  city  of  Greece;  being  also  the  resi- 
dence of  many  celebrated  artists  and  philosophers.  Hence 
the  address  of  St.  Paul  to  them,  "  Ye  are  rich,  ye  are  wise, 
ye  are  honourable."  The  order  of  architecture  chiefly  used 
in  tliis  city,  gave  the  name  of  Cormthian  to  pillars  of  that 
style. 

St.  Paul  came  to  preach  at  Cormth  in  the  year  of  Christ 
52,  and  was  much  opposed  by  the  Jews,  who  took  liim  before 
the  tribunal  of  the  proconsul  Gallio,  the  brother  of  the  famous 
philosopher  Seneca ;  but  Gallio,  equally  indifferent  both  to  Ju- 
daism and  Christianity,  finding  that  Paul  had  committed  no 
breach  of  morality,  or  of  the  public  peace,  refused  to  hear 
the  complaint,  and  drove  them  from  the  judgment-seat.  (Acts 
xviii.)  St.  Paul  was  thus  at  liberty  to  remain  at  Corintn, 
where  he  succeeded  in  converting  many,  and  among  others 
Crispus,  the  chief  ruler  of  the  synagogue,  and  all  his  house. 

The  manners  of  the  people  were  particularly  corrupt ;  in 
the  centre  of  the  city  was  a  celebrated  temple  of  Venus,  and 
Xhe  Isthmian  games  were  held  near  it,  which  gave  occasion 


COR 


DICTIONARY   OF   THE    BIBLE. 


123 


to  the  allusion  of  St.  Paul  in  chapter  ix.  v.  24,  of  his  first 
epistle  to  the  Corinthians. 

In  tlie  year  A.  D.  268,  Corinth  was  taken  and  burned  by 
the  Heruli ;  and  in  525  was  again  almost  ruined  by  an  earth- 
quake. About  the  year  IISO,  it  was  taken  and  plundered  by 
Roger,  king  of  Sicily.  From  the  year  1458,  until  the  period 
of  the  late  revolution,  Corinth  remained  under  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Turks ;  but  it  is  now  included  within  the  recently 
erected  kino^dom  of  Greece. 


A  very  ancient  medal  of  Corinth,  representing  the  Chimera,  a  fabu- 
lous monster  with  the  inscription  Korinthiox,  and  the  hero  Bellero- 
phon,  mounted  on  the  winged  hoi-se  Pegasus,  in  the  act  of  combating 
the  Chimera.  This  emblem  was  foreign  to  Corinth,  and  in  all  proba- 
bilit}'  denotes  an  eastern  origin.  The  Chimera  was  of  Lycia,  in  Asia 
Minor. 


These  medals  commemorate  the  Isthmian  games,  celebrated  on  the 
[sthmus  of  Corinth,  in  honour  of  Neptune.  They  were  celebrated 
every  fifth  year,  and  the  reward  of  the  victor  was  a  garland  of  parsley  • 
origuially  a  branch  of  the  pine  tree.  No.  3.  appears  to  have  beon 
Btruck  at  the  time  when  Claudius  Opiatus  was  Duumvir. 


124 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


CRE 


^:o.  4. 


This  medal  appeai-s  to  denote  tlie  worsliip  of  the  sun,  which  certainly 
existed  at  Corinlh,  as  Pausanias  there  saw  his  altars.  Macrobius  says 
the  sun  was  the  same  as  Apollo,  and  the  name  Apollo  is  thought  to  be 
derived  from  the  Greek  palleix,  shoodtig  abroad  his  rays.  Pausanias 
mentions  a  temple  dedicated  to  Apollo  Carneiis,  who  certainly  was  a 
radiated  deity,  and  was  probably  the  Carnaim  of  Scripture,  or  the  male 
deity  of  which  Ashtaroih  Carnaim  was  the  female. 

Crete,  an  island  in  the  Mediterranean,  now  called  Candia, 
lying-  at  the  entrance  of  the  Egean  sea,  or  Archipelago.  It 
is  one  of  tlie  noblest  islands  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  was 
formerly  called  Hecatompolis,  the  island  of  a  hundred  cities ; 
also,  Macarios,  or  Macaronesiis,  the  happy  island,  from  the 
richness  of  the  soil  and  the  salubrity  of  the  air.  St.  Paul 
sailed  near  this  island  in  his  voyage  to  Italy.  Acts  xxvii. 
7,  &c. 

Crete  is  believed  to  have  been  originally  peopled  by  the 
Caphtorim.  In  the  time  of  the  Greek  writers,  its  inhabitants 
were  in  bad  repute;  being  represented  by  Polybius  and 
others,  as  addicted  to  piracy,  robbem,  gluttony,  falsehood,  and 
almost  every  crime.  So  thoroughly  was  their  character 
establislied  for  lying,  that,  as  we  read  in  Homer,  when 
Ulysses  designs  to  deliver  a  falsehood,  ho  ahvays  assumes  the 
character  of  a  Cretan.  In  common  speech,  the  expression 
"fo  cref anise,''''  signified  to  tell  lies.  Epimenides,  one  of 
their  own  poets,  and  also  Callimachus,  gives  them  the  same 
character,  to  which  St.  Paul  alludes  in  his  epistle  to  Titus,  i. 
12.  The  bad  character  of  the  Cretans,  Cappadocians,  and 
Cilicians,  gave  rise  to  the  old  Greek  proverb,  tria  kappa 
KAKiSTA,  beware  of  the  three  k's,  i.  e.  Kappadocia,  Kilicia, 
and  Krete. 


ORE 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE. 


125 


In  tnis  island  reigned  Minos  and  Rhadamanthus,  whosa 
laws  were  in  great  repute  among  the  Greeks,  and  who,  from 
their  justice  and  equity,  were  fabled  by  the  poets  to  be. 
together  with  iEacus,  the  judges  in  the  world  of  spirits. 
Here  also  was  the  celebrated  labyrinth  made  by  Daedalus, 
which  was  said  to  have  been  so  intricate,  from  its  many  wind- 
ings and  turnings,  that  when  a  person  had  once  entered,  it 
was  impossible  for  him  to  find  the  way  out  again,  without  the 
help  of  a  clue  of  thread.  In  this  labyrinth  was  confined  the 
famous  fabulous  monster  Minotaur,  which  was  destroyed  by 
Theseus. 


A  medal  of  Crete,  representing  on  one  side  the  Minotaur,  and  on  the 
other  the  labyrinth  in  which,  according  to  the  fable,  he  was  cunfiiied. 
This  Minotaur  was  a  monster,  having  a  human  body  wiJi  a  bull's 
head ;  or  according  to  Ovid,  "  Semibovemque  virum,  semivirumque 
buvem,"  half  man  and  half  bull.  Dr.  Wells  conceives  this  figure  to 
have  reference  to  the  original  country  from  which  he  supposes  the 
Cretans  to  have  come,  i.  e.  from  that  of  which  Mount  Taurus,  bull,  is 
the  head,  as  this  mountain  was  represented  by  many  eastern  nations 
under  the  figure  of  a  bull.  It  is  remarkable  that  the  LXX.  and  other 
interpreters  of  Scripture,  understand  the  golden  calf  made  by  Israel  in 
the  wilderness,  as  being  of  this  figure,  onfy  having  the  head  of  a  calf 

Crete  was  taken  by  the  Roman^  under  Metellus,  after  a 
vigorous  resistance  of  above  two  years ;  and  formed  a  Roman 
province  with  the  small  kingdom  of  Cjrrene,  on  the  coast  of 
Libya.  In  the  time  of  the  apostle  Paul,  Titus,  to  whom  the 
epistle  is  addressed,  was  bishop  of  Crete :  in  the  reign  of  the 
emperor  Leo,  it  had  twelve  bishops,  subject  to  Constantino- 
ple. In  the  reign  of  Michael  II.  it  was  seized  by  the  Sara- 
cens, who  held  it  127  years,  till  they  were  expelled  by  the 
emperor  Phocas.  It  remained  under  the  dominion  of  the 
emperor  until  given,  by  Baldwin,  earl  of  Flanders,  who  had 
been  raided  to  the  throne,  to  Bonifacio,  Marquis  of  Montserrat, 
L2 


126  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  CUS 

who  sold  it  to  the  Venetians,  A.  D,  1194.  Under  their  gov- 
ernment it  flourished  greatly ;  but  was  unexpectedly  attacked 
by  the  Turks,  in  the  midst  of  peace.  The  siege  lasted  24 
years,  being  commenced  m  1646,  and  ending  in  1670 ;  hav- 
ing cost  the  Turks  200,000  men.  This  island  is  200  miles 
long,  and  50  broad.  Its  principal  city  is  Candia,  formerly 
strong,  rich,  and  populous,  but  now  not  more  than  the  eighth 
part  of  the  houses  are  inhabited.  Such  is  the  consequence  of 
Turkish  despotism,  reducing  the  finest  and  most  flourishing 
places  to  poverty  and  desolation. 

CusH,  Cutha,  or  Cushan,  a  name  applied  in  Scripture  to 
the  posterity  of  Cush,  the  son  of  Ham,  and  also  to  the  coun- 
try inhabited  by  them.  The  word  Cush,  in  most  versions  of 
the  Bible,  has  been  translated  Ethiopia,  and  as  only  one,  or 
at  most  two  countries  of  that  name  are  known  to  us,  very 
great  confusion  has  been  produced  by  that  translation,  with 
regard  to  a  proper  understanding  of  several  passages,  as  far 
as  geographical  accuracy  is  concerned. 

The  family  of  Cush  appears  to  have  been  numerous,  and 
the  establishments  of  his  descendants  to  have  been  proportion- 
ably  dispersed,  not  in  one  region  only,  but  in  several.  The 
first  country  which  bore  this  name,  and  which  doubtless  was 
tlie  original  settlement,  was  that  which  is  described  by  Mo- 
ses as  encompassed  by  the  river  Gihon,  or  Gyndes ;  which  en- 
circles a  great  pa,rt  of  Chuzestan,  in  Persia.  In  process  of 
time,  the  increasing  family  spread  over  the  vast  territory  of 
India  and  Arabia;  the  whole  of  which  tract,  from  the  Ganges 
to  the  borders  of  Egypt,  then  became  the  land  of  Cush,  or 
Asiatic  Ethiopia.  Until  dispossessed  of  this  country,  or  a 
great  part  of  it,  by  the  posterity  of  Abraham,  the  Ishmaelitea 
and  Midianites,  they,  by  a  farther  dispersion,  passed  over  into 
Africa,  which,  in  its  turn,  became  the  land  of  Cush  or  African 
Ethiopia,  the  only  country  trailed  Ethiopia  after  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Christian  era.  Even  from  this  last  refuge  they 
were  compelled,  by  the  influx  of  fresh  settlers  from  Arabia, 
Egypt,  aed  Canaan,  to  extend  their  migrations  still  further, 
into  the  heart  of  the  Ah'ican  continent,  wliere  only,  in  the 
woolly-headed  negro,  the  genuine  Cushite  is  to  be  found. 

There  was  then  a  threefold  land  of  Cush,  or  Ethiopia,  to 
each  of  which  some  of  the  transactions  mentioned  in  Scripture 
under  that  name,  are  to  be  referred.  We  have  seen  where, 
on  the  authority  of  Moses,  was  the  first  land  of  Cush  :  that 
Arabia  was  likewise  so  denominated,  appears  from  Ezekiel, 


CUS  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  127 

(xxix.  10.)  whom  God  makes  to  say,  "  I  will  make  tlie  land 
of  Egypt  desolate,  from  the  tower  of  Syene  even  unto  the 
borders  of  Cush."  Now  as  the  tower  of  Syene  was  at  its 
southern  extremity,  the  border  of  Cush,  or  its  opposite  one, 
could  be  no  other  than  its  northern,  or  Arabian  border.  The 
propliet  Habakkuk,  (iii.  7.)  also  joins  it  with  Midian,  which 
was  in  Arabia.  Besides  the  passages  of  Scripture  already 
mentioned,  referring  to  Arabian  Ethiopia,  may  be  mentioned, 
Numb.  xii.  1.  2  Kings  xix.  9.  2  Chron.  xxi.  16.  xiv.  9.  Isa. 
XXXV  ii.  9. 

At  what  time  the  term  Ethiopian  was  applied  to  the  Cush- 
ite  colonies  in  Africa,  it  is  difficult  to  determine.  But  it  ap- 
pears certain  that  some  at  least  of  these  colonies  were  plant- 
ed by  the  Cuthite  shepherds,  who  invaded  Egypt  from  the 
east,  and  held  it  in  subjection  for  the  space  of  260  years,  im- 
mediately preceding  the  time  of  Joseph,  or,  according  to  some 
^^Titers,  100  years  before  this  time;  and  the  remainder  by  a 
second  invasion  and  a  new  dynasty,  which  extended  to  the  time 
of  the  going  out  of  the  Israelites,  when,  or  at  a  former  expul- 
sion, a  part  of  the  discomfited  Cuthites  retreated  up  the  Nile. 
In  2  Chron.  xii.  2,  3.  it  is  said  that  Shishak,  king  of  Egypt, 
came  up  against  Jerusalem,  with  certain  African  nations, 
among  whom  are  mentioned  the  Ethiopians ;  and  in  chap,  xvi. 
8.  the  Lubim,  or  Libyans,  are  also  associated  with  the  Ethio- 
pians. Daniel,  (xi.  43.)  with  the  same  exclusive  reference  to 
Africa,  mentions  the  Ethiopians  in  conjunction  with  Egypt  and 
Libya. 

Herodotus  relates  that  in  the  army  of  Xerxes,  which  he 
had  prepared  for  the  invasion  of  Greece,  480  years  before 
Christ,  there  were  both  Oriental  and  African  Ethiopians ;  and 
adds  the  singular  fact  that  they  resembled  each  other  in  every 
particular,  except  their  hair ;  that  of  the  Asiatic  Ethiopians 
being  long  and  straight,  while  the  hair  of  those  of  Africa  was 
curled.  This  may  be  accounted  for  on  the  ground  of  a  change 
of  climate  and  habits. 

The  curse  denounced  on  the  posterity  of  Ham,  and  which 
has  pursued  this,  the  most  numerous  branch  of  his  family, 
from  Persia  to  Arabia,  and  from  Arabia  to  Africa,  degenera- 
ting at  each  remove,  is  most  conspicuous  in  their  present  con- 
dition. While  employed  in  Arabia,  as  merchants  and  shep- 
herds, or  as  carriers  between  the  descendants  of  Shem  and 
Japhet,  some  portion  of  civilization  yet  remained  with  them, 
and  the  distinctive  marks  of  the  family  doubtless  even  then 


128  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  CUT 

existed ;  the  dark  skin  and  the  Ethiopic  physiognomy :  but  it 
required  a  hotter  clime,  and  a  lower  grade  of  moral  degrada- 
tion, to  mould  that  physiognomy  into  that  of  the  modern  x\fri- 
can,  to  give  tlie  skin  a  deeper  dye,  and  to  add  to  the  whole 
the  woolly  head. 

In  the  time  of  our  Saviour,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present, 
Ethiopia  has  been  used,  in  a  general  sense,  to  comprehend  the 
countries  south  of  Egypt,  then  but  imperfectly  known,  of  one 
of  which  that  Candace  was  queen,  whose  eunuch  was  bap- 
tized by  Philip.  (Acts  viii.  27.)  This  eunuch,  in  the  Syriac 
Testament,  is  called  the  Cushite.  Mr.  Bruce  mentions  a 
place  which  he  found  on  his  return  from  Abyssinia,  called 
Chendi,  where  a  tradition  existed  that  a  woman  named  Hen- 
daque  (which  comes  very  near  the  Greek  name  of  this  queen, 
Chandake)  once  governed  all  this  country.  Near  this  place 
he  found  extensive  ruins,  denoting  it  to  have  once  been  a  place 
of  consequence. 

Thus,  from  the  history  of  the  Cushites  or  Ethiopians,  we 
see  that  they  are  not  to  be  confined  to  either  Arabia  or  Africa. 
Many  parts  of  Scripture  history  cannot  be  understood  without 
supposing  them  to  have  settlements  in  both ;  which  Herodotus 
expressly  asserts  was  the  case.  In  fine,  we  may  conclude, 
that  in  the  times  of  the  prophets,  and  during  the  transactions 
recorded  in  the  second  books  of  Kings  and  Chronicles,  the  Cush- 
ites, still  retaining  a  part  of  their  ancient  possessions  in  Ara- 
bia, had  crossed  the  Red  Sea  in  great  numbers,  and  obtained  ex- 
tensive possessions  in  Africa;  where,  being,  in  a  further  course 
of  time,  altogether  expelled  from  the  east  by  the  Ishmaelites 
and  others,  their  remains  are  now  concentrated.  It  is  to  be 
observed,  however,  that  the  Cushites,  probably  at  the  time  of 
their  expulsion  from  Egypt,  migrated,  or  sent  colonies,  into 
several  other  parts,  particularly  to  Phenicia,  Colchis,  and 
Greece ;  where,  in  process  of  time,  they  became  blended  with 
the  other  inhabitants  of  those  countries,  the  families  of  Javan, 
Meshech,  and  Tubal,  and  their  distinctive  character  totally 
lost. 

CuTHAH,  a  Chaldee  name,  signifying  the  land  of  Cush. 
"  The  king  of  Assyria  brought  men  from  Babylon,  and  from 
Cuthaii,  and  from  Ava,  and  from  Hamath,  and  from  Sephar- 
vaim,  and  placed  them  in  the  cities  of  Samaria,  instead  of  the 
children  of  Israel."  (2  Kings  xvii.  24.)  The  Cuthah  here 
meant  must  be  a  province  of  the  Assyrian  empire,  which,  3S 
some  say,  lies  upon  the  Araxes,  and  is  the  same  as  Cush  j  but 


GYP 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE. 


129 


others  suppose  it  to  mean  the  original  land  of  Cush,  or  Chuses- 
tan,  about  the  lower  Euphrates. 

Cyprus,  a  large  island  in  the  Mediterranean,  situated  be- 
tween Syria  and  Ciiicia,  about  100  miles  from  the  fo-rmer,  and 
60  from  the  latter ;  extending  in  length,  from  east  to  west, 
about  200  miles,  and  in  breadth  60.  It  is  sup-posed  to  have 
been  first  settled  by  colonies  of  the  Kittim  or  Chittim,  whose 
name  was  preserved  in  that  of  the  city  called  Citium  by  the 
Romans.  Others,  however,  believe  it  to  have  been  colonized 
by  the  Phenicians.  The  name  Cyprus,  given  to  this  island 
by  the  Greeks,  is  said  to  come  from  the  cypress-tree,  which 
grows  there  in  great  abundance. 

This  island  was  famous  in  the  time  of  the  Greeks  and 
Romans  for  the  worship  of  Venus,  who  was  thence  called 
Cypria,  or  the  Cyprian  goddess.  Salamis  was  a  city  of  this 
island,  where  Paul  and  Barnabas  preached,  (Acts  xiii.  4,  5,  6.) 
and  introduced  Christianity  instead  of  the  heathen  abomina- 
tions of  Cyprian  worship. 


A  coin  of  Cyprus,  representing  the  temple  of  Venus,  and  showing 
that  she  was  worshipped  in  this  island,  as  in  India,  in  the  shape  of  a 
mela,  or  conical  stone.  This  agrees  with  the  description  of  her  temple 
at  Faphos,  by  Tacitus,  who  says  the  image  of  the  goddess  was  not  of 
the  human  form,  but  a  smooth  stone,  i.  e.  the  mela.  Maximus  Tyrius 
also  says,  The  image  of  the  goddess  was  a  pyramid  of  white  stone.  The 
crescent  on  the  top  of  the  temple  m.arks  lliis  divinity  for  the  female 
power  of  nature.  * 

The  figure  on  the  other  side,  holding  a  flower,  is  3\x^\\ex  Agreus. 
The  inscription,  epistr.  kyprion,  possibly  refers  to  the  taking  of  the 
island  by  the  Rom.ans.  Zenon  was  a  name  common  to  some  of  the 
Roman  emperoi-s  on  the  throne  of  Constantinople,  in  the  fifth  and  sixth 
centuries. 


130 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


CYR 


A  coin  of  Paphos,  now  called  Baffb,  in  the  island  of  Cyprus,  showing 
that  Venus  was  the  deity  there  worshipped,  whence  she  was  called  the 
Paphian  Goddess.  The  figure  with  the  bow  is  Cupid,  who  received 
equal  honour  at  the  same  place,  as  is  denoted  by  the  inscription,  papa- 
piiiON.  According  to  Pausanias,  the  Paphian  Venus  was  originally 
worshipped  in  Assyria:  it  was  adopted  in  Cyprus  and  in  Ascalon  by 
the  Phenicians. 

Cyprus  formerly  contained  several  petty  kingdoms,  tributary 
to  Egypt,  and  afterwards  to  the  Romans,  from  whom  it  was 
taken  by  the  Saracens :  it  subsequently  passed  under  the  domi- 
nion of  the  Turi^s;  and,  like  most  of  their  other  possessions,  has 
been  reduced  from  the  state  of  a  populous  and  flourishing  coun- 
try, to  that  of  a  ruinous  and  desolate  region.  When  conquered 
by  the  Turks  in  1570,  the  population  was  estimated  at  one 
million  ;  but  at  present  it  is  only  about  40,000.  In  this  island 
are  about  forty  Greek  monasteries,  and  two  Catholic  convents. 
Mr.  Connor,  who  recently  visited  this  island,  states  that  he 
was  received  in  the  kindest  manner  by  the  Greek  archbishop, 
and  gives  an  encouraging  prospect  of  the  circulation  of  the 
Scriptures  among  the  inhabitants. 

Cyrene,  the  capital  of  Libya,  which  gave  the  name  of  Cy- 
renaica  to  the  country  in  which  it  stood.  It  was  founded  by 
a  Grecian  colony,  and  situated  in  a  fertile  plain,  near  the 
Mediterranean,  about  500  miles  west  of  Alexandria.  This 
place  is  celebrated  in  profane  history  for  the  birtli  of  Eratos- 
thenes, the  mathematician,  and  Calliinachus,  the  poet.  "  From 
the  parts  of  Libya  aboi#  Cyrene"  we  read  (Acts  ii.  10.)  tliat 
Jews  went  up  to  Jerusalem  at  the  feast  of  Pentecost.  Of 
this  place  was  also  Simon,  the  Cyreneaji,  whom  the  Jews 
compelled  to  bear  the  cross  of  our  Saviour.  Matt,  xxvii.  32. 
Luke  xxiii.  26. 


DAL 


DICmONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE. 


131 


The  district  of  Cyrene  was  sometimes  called  Pentapolis, 
on  account  of  its  containing  five  principal  cities,  Cyrene, 
Apollonia,  Arsinoe,  Berenice,  and  Ptolemais.  Each  of  these 
nad  medals  of  its  own,  but  some  were  common  to  the  whole 
country. 


From  these  medals  it  appears  that  the  people  of  Cyrene  were  fond 
of  chariot-races,  and  addicted  to  the  worship  of  Jupiter.  As  this  pro- 
vince adjoined  Egypt,  their  predilection  for  Jupiter  Ammon  is  easily- 
accounted  for.  The  plant  Silphiura  and  the  palm-tree  were  common 
here,  and  frequently  represented  on  their  coins.  The  harp  of  Apollo  is 
agreeable  to  the  sports  and  pastimes  usually  accompanying  the  chariot- 
races  of  antiquity.  This  apparent  fondness  for  pomp  and  show,  and  also 
of  the  arts,  in  a  people  of  that  part  of  Africa,  may  be  accounted  for  by 
the  fact  that  they  were  a  Greek  colony. 


Dabbasheth,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  near  the  bor- 
der of  Issachar.  Josh.  xix.  11. 

Dabereth,  a  city  of  Issachar  on  the  border  of  Zebulon. 
(Josh.  xix.  12.  xxi.  28.)  This  was  a  city  of  the  Levites,  and 
is  thought  to  be  the  same  which  Jerom  calls  Debira,  towards 
Mount  ^Tabor. 

Dalmanutha,  a  place  near  Magdala,  or  included  in  its  ter- 
ritory ;  and  proljably  situated  on  Sie  east  side  of  the  sea  of 
Galilee.     See  Magdala. 


132  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  BAM 

Dalmatia,  the  southern  part  of  Illyricum,  a  province  lying 
on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Adriatic,  or  Gulf  of  Venice.  Thia 
js  the  country  to  which  Titus  went  and  preached  the  gospel, 
^  Tim.  iv.  10.)  since  which  time  the  Christian  religion  has 
been  continued  here. 

Damascus,  a  celebrated  city  in  Syria,  and  one  of  the  most 
ancient  and  venerable,  on  account  of  its  antiquity,  in  the 
whole  world,  being  noted  as  the  birth-place  of  Eliezer,  the 
steward  of  Abraham,  (Gen.  xv.  2.)  and  founded,  according  to 
Josephus,  by  Uz,  the  son  of  Aram,  and  grandson  of  Shem. 
.^t  is  also  remarka,ble  for  being  the  only  city  of  equal  antiquity 
which  retains  to  the  present  day  a  high  degree  of  eminence 
for  its  wealth  and  population. 

It  is  situated  on  tlie  western  side  of  a  vast  plain,  open  to  an 
immense  distance  on  the  south  and  east,  but  inclosed  on  the 
west  and  north,  by  the  mountains  of  Anti-Libanus.  At  about 
two  miles'  distance,  the  river  Barrady  issues  from  these  moun- 
tains, and  supplies  the  city  and  the  numerous  gardens  around 
it  with  abundance  of  water,  which  renders  it  the  most  fertile 
and  delightful  spot  in  all  Syria.  The  Turks  and  Arabs  be- 
lieve it  to  have  been  the  original  Paradise,  and  that  it  has  not 
its  equal  on  earth.  They  also  have  a  tradition  that  their 
prophet,  Mahomet,  coming  in  siglit  of  the  city,  vv^as  so  struck 
with  the  exceeding  beauty  and  richness  of  the  place,  that  he 
resolved  not  to  enter  it,  lest  he  should  be  tempted  to  resign 
the  heavenly  Paradise,  to  which  he  aspired,  for  the  paradise 
of  earth,  which  he  saw  before  him. 

The  principal  cause  of  the  flourishing  state  of  Damascus 
arises  from  the  pilgrims  from  the  northern  parts  of  Asia,  v/ho 
unite  at  this  point,  from  whence  they  proceed  in  a  body  to 
Mecca.  Their  number  amounts  in  each  year  to  30  or  50,0(><;, 
many  of  whom  remain  three  or  four  months  in  the  city,  be- 
fore the  period  of  their  departure  arrives,  when  they  set  out 
across  the  desert  in  one  great  caravan,  a  journey  of  40  days 
to  Mecca,  and  as  many  back.  Each  of  this  army  of  pilgrims, 
in  order  to  receive  some  wordly  as  well  as  spiritual  benefit 
from  his  journey,  loads  his  camel  or  his  mule  with  the  pro- 
ductions of  his  own  country,  which  he  disposes  of  on  hia 
route,  and  returns  freighted  with  the  goods  of  India,  of  which 
Jidda,  the  port  of  Mecca,  is  the  great  depot.  Thus  this  im- 
mense caravan  engrosses  to  itself  the  trade  of  the  countries 
through  which  it  passes ;  and  of  all  this  trade  Damascus  is 
the  centre,  and,  together  with  Aleppo,  derives  considerable 


DAM  DICTIONARY   OF   THE  BIBLE,  138 

advantage  fi-om  it.  This  is,  in  fact,  the  present  channel  of 
that  communication,  partly  over  land-,  and  partly  by  the  Ara- 
bian Gulf  and  Red  Sea,  between  India  and  the  countries  of 
the  north  and  west,  which  has  existed  from  the  earliest  ages, 
of  which  Babylon,  Palmyra,  Tyre,  Sidon,  Alexandria,  and 
even  Jerusalem,  have,  at  difierent  times,  been  the  prmcipal 
marts.  -     • 

Damascus,  in  its  earliest  history,  appears  to  have  apper- 
tained to  the  kingdom  of  Zobah.  2  Sam.  viii.  5,  6.  1  Kings 
xi.(-23,  24.)  From  the  latter  passa,ge  of  Scripture,  it  appears 
that  the  Syrian  kingdom  of  Damascus  originated  either  dur- 
ing the  reign  of  David  or  Solomon :  the  city  and  the  rest  of 
Syria  having  before  been  subject  to  a  king  whose  residence 
was  at  Zobah ;  though  in  still  earlier  times  it  is  probable  that 
Damascus,  vvhicli  was  at  least  as  ancient  as  Zobah,  was  an 
independent  city.  It  contmued  to  be  the  capital  of  the  Syrian 
kingdom  until  about  the  year  740  before  Christ,  when  Ti- 
glath-Pileser  took  it,  and  killed  Rezin  the  king :  after  which 
it  was  subject  to  the  kings  of  Assv^ria,'  until  the  overthrow  of 
tJiat  empire. 

In  the  early  ages  of  Christianity,  Da.mascus  was  the  seat 
of  a  patriarch  ;  and  the  church  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  still- 
exists,  though  now  converted  into  a  Turkish  mosque.  In  this 
church  are  said  to  be  preserved  the  head  of  St.  John,  and 
some  other  relics,  esteemed  so  holy  that  it  is  deatli,  even  for  a 
Turk,  to  presume  to  go  into  the  room  where  they  are  kept. 
Here  is  shown  the  house  of  Ananias,  (Acts  ix.  17.)  and  also 
the  place  where  he  restored  sight  to  St.  Paul,  (Acts  ix.  17.) 
as  well  as  the  place  where  Paul  v/as  let  down  in  a  basket. 
(Acts  ix.  25.)  The  place  of  his  vision  and  miraculous  con- 
version is  about  half  a  mile  from  the  city,  eastward ;  a.nd  the 
place  where  he  rested,  in  his  way  to  the  city,  after  the  vision, 
(Acts  ix.  8.)  is  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  street  called 
Etraiffht,  (Acts  ix.ll.)  yet  exists,  and  is  about  half  a  mile  long, 
ruiming  from  east  to  west  through  the  city.  In  this  street  is 
shown  the  house  of  Judas,  with  whom  St.  Paul  lodged,  and 
in  the  same  house  an  ancient  tomb,  said  to  be  that  of  Ananias. 

The  city  is  now  called  Sham,  and  is  four  or  five  miles  in 
circumference  ;  being  reputed  to  contain  80,000  inhabitants  : 
it  lies  about  60  miles  east  from  Sidon,  and  150  north-east 
from  Jerusalem.  It  was  visited  in  1820,  by  the  Rev.  James 
Connor,  agent  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  who  gives 
an  encouraging  view  of  the  success  of  his  exertions  at  this 
M 


134 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


DAM 


place.  The  patriarch  of  Antioch,  the  head  of  the  Christian 
church  in  the  East,  who  resides  at  Damascus,  received  him  in 
the  most  friendly  manner.  He  undertook  to  promote  and 
encourage  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  the 
utmost  extent  of  his  power ;  and  he  immediately  sent  letters 
to  his  bishops  and  archbishops,  urging-  them  to  promote  the 
objects  of  the  Bible  Society  in  their  respective  stations.  This 
is  a  most  gratifying  prospect,  as  there  could  not  be  a  more 
favourable  spot  selected  for  dispersing  (by  means  of  the  im- 
mense confluence  of  merchants  and  pilgrims  at  this  place)  the 
Scriptures  through  all  the  countries  of  Asia. 


No.  1.  A  medal  of  Damascus,  representing  on  the  reverse  the  tur- 
reted  goddess  ,•  holding  out  her  right  hand,  in  her  left  the  cornucopia, 
and  at  her  feet  the  personification  of  a  river.  The  inscription,  Basile- 
os  ARETOU  PHiLELLExos,  denotes  it  to  be  a  medal  of  king  Aretas ;  but 
as  there  were  several  kings  of  Damascus  or  Arabia  of  that  name,  we 
mast  examine  the  date,  which  is  ap,  130,  of  the  era  of  the  Seleucidae,  and 
therefore  brings  us  to  the  lime  of  the  Aretas  mentioned  in  2  Mace.  v. 
8.  and  who  lived  170  years  before  Christ.  The  king  Aretas  whose  go- 
vernor at  Damascus  is  mentioned  as  nearly  seizing  St.  Paul,  (2  Cor.  xi. 
32.  Acts  ix.  25.)  was  another  of  that  name. 


DAN  DICTIONARY   OF    THE    BIBLE.  135 

No.  2.  In  the  upper  part  of  this  medal  is  a  temple,  in  which  is  Sile- 
nus ;  helow,  a  grotto,  in  which  reclines  a  female  figure,  holding  in  her 
right  hand  eai"s  of  corn,  iii  her  left  a  cornucopia;  I'esling  on  an  urn, 
from  which  flows  a  stream  of  water;  before  this  grotto,  an  altar,  no 
doubt  in  honour  of  the  goddess:  inscription,  the  same  as  No.  2,  with  the 
additional  motlo,  fegai,  foimiains  or  springs.  The  meaning  of  the 
whole  seems  to  be  the  same  as  No.  1  and  2;  the  urn  holding  the  place 
of  the  figure  denoting  the  n\  er  on  No.  1.  It  is,  however,  probable  that 
they  refer  to  the  river  Barrady,  by  which  the  vineyards  and  gardens  of 
the  city  of  Damascus  were  watered  ;  and  to  which,  consequently,  the 
inhabitants  were  indebted  for  their  fruits  and  wines. 

No.  3.  On  this,  medal  we  have  five  cities,  represented  by  female 
figures,  offering  in  a  solemn  manner,  before  an  altar,  a  collection  of 
Iruits  to  the  goddess  sitting  on  a  rock ;  before  whom  stands  a  Silenus,  with 
his  wine-bolile  ;  and  behind  whom  flies  the  winged  horse.  The  goddess 
points  with  her  rigiit  hand  ;  in  her  left  she  holds  the  cornucopia.  This 
medal  probably  imports  a  commemoration,  by  Damascus  and  other  Sy- 
rian cities,  of  the  original  gbddess  of  plenty,  &c.  in  regions  much  fur- 
ther east;  and  that  they  are  offering  the  fruits  of  their  gardens  to  that 
origin  from  whence  they  fii-st  recei\ed  them.  Thealtar  plainly  denotes 
an  act  of  worship :  the  Silenus  refers  to  Bacchus,  who  was  certainly  a 
deity  of  the  east.     Inscription,  Damascus,  a  colony  and  metropolis. 

The  species  of  plum  called  damascene,  as  well  as  the  da- 
mask rose,  was  orignally  transplanted  from  the  gardens  of 
this  city  to  Europe ;  and  the  flowered  silks  and  linens  called 
damasks  were  originally  among  the  manufactures  of  Damas- 
cus, and  thence  derived  their  name. 

Dan,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.    See  Part  I.  p.  64. 

Dan,  a  city  called  Laish,  or  Leshem,  before  it  was  pos- 
sessed by  the  Danites,  who  oalled  it  after  the  name  of  their 
father,  or  tribe.  (Josh.  xix.  47.  Judges  xviii.  29.)  It  was 
situated  at  the  extreme  northern  point  of  the  Jewish  territo- 
ry, near  the  head  of  the  Jordan.  From  this,  its  extreme 
northern  position,  and  that  of  Beersheba  in  the  south,  the  two 
places  are  frequently  thus  mentioned  in  Scripture,  namely, 
"froiTi  Dan  even  unto  Beersheba,"  to  describe  the  whole 
length  of  the  country. 

It  was  at  this  place  that  Chedorlaomer,  after  he  had  invaded 
the  Land  of  Canaan  and  defeated  the  five  kings,  having  taken 
away  Lot  as  a  prisoner,  was  overtaken  by  Abraham,  who  fell 
upon  him  by  night,  routed  him,  and  recovered  Lot  and  all 
his  property.  (Gen.  xiv.)  Here  Jeroboam  set  up  one  of  hia 
golden  calves.  (1  Kmgs  xii.  29.)  After  the  death  of  Herod, 
when  his  kingdom  was  divided,  this  city  fell  to  the  lot  of  his 
youngest  son  Philip,  who  made  it  the  capital  of  his  tetrarehy 
of  Iturea  and  Trachonitis.     He  enlarged  and  beautified  it 


136  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  DEA 

and  gave  it  the  name  of  Caesarea  Pliilippi,  under  which  name 
it  is  mentioned  in  the  New  Testament ;  being  honoured  by 
the  presence  of  our  Saviour  (Mark  viii.  27.)  Tiiis  place  is 
called  by  the  heathen  Pancas ;  its  modern  name  is  Banias ; 
situated  at  the  foot  of  the  western  brancli  of  j^.loimt  Her- 
mon. 

DiNNAH,  a  city  of  Judah.     See  Dehir. 

Dead  !Sea,  anciently  called  the  Sea  of  the  Plain  (Dent, 
iii.  17.  and  iv.  49.)  fforn  its  situation  in  the  great  valley  or 
plam  of  the  Jordan;  the  Salt  Sea  (Deut.  iii.  17.  Josh.  xv.  5.) 
from  the  extreme  saltness  of  its  waters;  and  the  East  Sea 
(Ezek.  xlvii.  18.  Joel  ii.  20.)  from  its  situation  on  the  east  of 
Judea.  By  Josephus,  and  the  Greek  and  Latin  writers 
generally,  it  is  called  Lacus  Asphaltites,  from  the  bitumen 
found  in  it;  and  the  name  Dead  Sea  by  which  it  is  usually 
called  at  present,  comes  from  a  tradition,  commonly,  though 
erroneously  received,  that  no  living  creature  could  exist  in 
its  saline  and  sulphurous  waters. 

This  sea  is  about  70  miles  in  length,  and  20  in  breadth  at 
its  widest  part;  having,  like  the  Caspian,  no  visible  com- 
munication with  the  ocean.  Its  depth  seems  to  be  altogether 
•anknown ;  nor  does  it  appear  that  a  boat  has  ever  navigated 
its  surface.  Towards  its  southern  extremity,  however,  in  a 
narrow  part  of  it,  is  a  ford  about  six  miles  over,  used  by  tlite 
Arabs ;  who  say  tiiat  in  the  middle  the  water  is  warm,  indi- 
cating the  presence  of  warm  springs  beneath.  In  general, 
towards  the  shore,  it  is  shallow ;  and  rises  and  falls  with  the 
seasons,  and  the  quantity  of  water  carried  into  it  by  the  Jor- 
dan and  other  streams.  It  also  appears  either  to  be  on  the 
increase,  or  to  be  lower  in  some  years  than  in  others ;  which 
makes  it  probable  that  those  travellers  are  to  be  credited 
who  assert  that  they  have  beheld  the  ruins  of  cities,  either 
exposed  or  engulfed  beneath  the  waters.  Troilo  and  D'Ar- 
vieux  assert  that  they  observed  fragments  of  walls,  &:c. 
Josephus  says  that  he  perceived  traces  or  shades  of  the  cities 
on  the  baniis  of  the  lake.  Strabo  gives  a  circumference  of 
about  seven  miles  to  the  ruins  of  Sodom ;  and  two  aged  and 
respectable  inhabitants  of  Jerusalem  told  Mr.  Maundrell,  the 
traveller,  tliat  tliey  had  once  been  able  to  see  some  parts  of 
these  ruins ;  that  they  were  near  the  shore,  and  the  water  so 
shallow  at  the  time,  tliat  they,  together  with  some  French- 
men, went  into  it  and  found  several  pillars  and  fragments  of 
buildings.     These  authorities  are  not  to  be  despised,  and  we 


DEB  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  137 

may  suppose,  that,  at  the  first  destruction  of  these  guilty 
cities,  they  were  not  entirely  overwhelmed  with  the  waters, 
but  remained  more  or  less  exposed  to  view,  as  monuments  of 
the  judgments  of  God  ;  and  that  from  the  slow  increase  of 
the  waters  for  nearly  4000  years,  they  have  gradually 
receded  from  our  sight,  and  are  now  only  to  be  seen  through 
the  water,  if  seen  at  all,  after  seasons  of  long  continued 
drought. 

This  sea  now  covers  what  w^as  once  the  vale  of  Siddim, 
containing  the  five  cities  of  the  plain,  Sodom,  Gomorrah, 
Admah,  Zeboim,  and  Bela  or  Zoar.  See  Part  I.  p.  31.  Its 
water  is  far  more  salt  than  that  of  the  ocean ;  100  pounds  of 
the  water  yielding  41  poimds  of  salts ;  while  100  pounds  of 
water  from  the  Atlantic  only  yields  6  pounds  of  salts.  The 
specific  gravity  of  the  water  is  1.211,  that  of  common  water 
being  1.000.  A  bottle  of  it,  having  been  brought  to  England, 
was  analyzed  by  Dr.  Marcet,  who,  from  100  grains  of  the 
water,  obtained  the  follovv^ing  result : 

Grains. 

Muriate  of  lime, 3.920 

Muriate  of  Magnesia, 10.246 

Muriate  of  Soda, 10.360 

Sulphate  of  lime, 0.054 

It  was  long  affirmed  that  no  fish  were  found  in  its  waters, 
and  even  that  birds  fell  dead  in  flying  over  it.  Modern 
travellers  have  refuted  these  tales ;  for  Mr.  Maundrell  observ- 
ed birds  flying  over  and  about  it,  and  found,  on  the  shore, 
shells  which  had  once  contained  fish.  Chateaubriand,  hear- 
ing a  noise  on  the  lake  at  midnight,  was  told  by  the  people 
of  Bethlehem,  that  it  proceeded  from  legions  of  small  fish, 
which  come  and  leap  about  near  the  shore. 

The  Dead  Sea  is  situated  on  the  east  of  the  land  of  Canaan, 
between  two  ridges  of  mountains ;  of  which  those  on  the 
eastern  or  Arabian  side  are  the  highest  and  most  rocky.  The 
whole  region  bears  an  aspect  of  the  utmost  sterility,  showing 
not  a  speck  of  vegetation,  or  the  habitation  of  man  or  beast. 
Every  traveller  who  has  visited  it  represents  it  as  most  fright- 
ful and  desolate,  as  if  the  country  which  was  so  signally 
wicked  as  to  require  the  exterminating  hand  of  God  to 
cleanse  it,  should  bear  upon  it,  in  all  ages,  the  marks  of  his 
displeasure. 

Debir,  a  city  taken  by  Joshua  from  the  Canaanites,  and 
afterwards  given  to  the  tribe  of  Judah.     See  Part  I.  p.  57. 
There  was  also  a  city  of  this  name  in  the  tribe  of  Grad,  (Josh. 
M2 


138  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  DIN 

xiii.  26.)  and  another  in  Judah  or  Benjamin  not  far  from 
Jericho.  Josh.  xv.  7. 

Decapolis,  a  country  so  called  from  its  containing  ten 
cities,  some  of  which  lay  within  the  Holy  Land,  and  others 
without;  partly  in  Iturca.  and  partly  in  Percea.  These  ten 
cities  confederated  together,  and  preserved  tJieir  indepen- 
dence during  the  time  of  the  Asmonean  princes,  who  govern- 
ed the  Jewish  nation  from  the  time  of  Antiochus  Epiphanes, 
king  of  Syria,  to  that  of  Herod.  Geographers  are  not  agreed 
in  their  lists  of  these  cities.  The  authority  of  Josephus  is 
perhaps  the  best,  and  Pliny  nearly  agrees  with  him :  he  gives 
the  following,  Damascus,  Otopos,  Philadelphia,  Raphana, 
Gadara,  Hippos,  Dios,  Pella,  Gerasa,  and  Scythopolis.  This 
country  is  mentioned  in  Matt.  iv.  25.  and  Mark  v.  20. 

Dedan,  Dedanim,  the  country  inhabited  by  the  posterity 
of  Dedan,  the  son  of  Raamah,  and  grandson  of  Gush.  8ee 
Part  I.  p.  24. 

Dehavites,  a  people  mentioned  in  Ezra  iv.  9.  probably  the 
same  who  are  said  (2  Kings  xvii.  24.)  to  have  been  brought 
by  the  king  cf  Assyria  from  Ava,  in  that  part  of  Assyria 
watered  by  the  river  Diaba. 

Derbe,  a  city  of  Lycaonia,  in  Asia  Minor,  to  which  St. 
Paul  and  Barnabas  tied,  after  being  driven  from  Iconium, 
(Acts  xiv.  6.)  Gains,  a  disciple  of  St.  Paul,  and  St.  John  the 
evangelist,  also  Timothy,  were  natives  of  Derbe.  It  was 
situated  20  miles  south  of  Lystra. 

DiBLATHAiM,  or  BiblatJw,  a  town  on  the  east  of  Jordan, 
near  Mount  Nebo.  Numb,  xxxiii.  46.  Ezek.  vi.  14.  Jer. 
xlviii.  22. 

DiBON,  or  Dihon  Gad.,  a  city  of  Moah,  east  of  Jordan,  given 
to  the  tribe  of  Gad,  (Numb,  xxxii.  3.  33,  34.)  and  afterwards 
yielded  up  to  Reuben.  (Josh.  xiii.  9.)  It  was  one  of  the 
encampments  of  the  Israelites.  Jerom  says  that  it  was  called 
also  Dimon.  Eusebius  says  that  in  his  day  it  was  a  large 
town,  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Arnon.  There  was  an- 
other town  of  this  name  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  which  is  thought 
to  be  tlie  same  as  Debir. 

DiLEAxN,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  88. 

DiMNAH,  a  city  of  Zcbulon,  (Josh.  xxi.  35.)  given  to  the 
Levites  of  the  family  of  JMerari. 

Dimon,  or  Dimonah,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  22.  Lsa. 
XT.  9.)  thought  to  be  the  same  as  Dibon. 

DiNABAH,  a  city  of  Edom.  Gen.  xxxvi.  32.  1  Chron.  i.  43. 


EBA 


DiCTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBI-E, 


139 


DiNAiTES,  a  people  who  opposed  the  rebuilding  of  the  tem- 
ple in  Jerusalem,  after  the  return  of  the  people  from  Babylon. 
Ezra  iv, 

DoDANiM,  the  descendants  of  Dodan,  the  son  of  Javan,  and 
grandson  of  Japhet ;  settled  in  Asia  Minor,     See  Part  I.  p.  19. 

DopHKA,  one  of  the  encampments  of  the  Israelites  in  the 
wilderness.     See  Part  I.  p.  44. 

Dor,  a  city  on  the  Mediterranean  in  the  west  of  Canaan. 
See  Part  I.  p.  59. 

A  medal,  with  the  in- 
scription   DOREITON,    of 

Dor;  showing  that  As- 
tarts  or  Venus  was  w-or- 
shipped  here,  as  the  prin- 
ciple of  fertility ;  as  in 
the  neighbouring  cities 
on  this  coast.  The  head 
is  of  i'»[ero:  the  goddess 
olds  in  her  right  hand 
the  staff  crossed  at  the 
top ;  in  her  left,  the  cornucopia.  The  date,  a  a  p,  13],  refers  to  the  era 
of  Pompey,  who  gave  liberty  ro  this  town,  with  inany  others  of  Syria, 
in  the  year  of  Rome  690:  this  date  is  the  twelfth  of  Nero. 

DoTHAN,  a  tow^n  in  Canaan.     See  Part  I.  p.  38. 

DuMAH,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  52. 

Dura,  a  great  plain  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Babylon, 
where  the  golden  image  of  Nebuchadnezzar  was  set  up  to  be 
worshipped ;  which  Shadrach,  Meshach  and  Abednego  refus- 
ing to  do,  they  were  ca.st  into  a  fiery  furnace.  Dan.  iii.  1,  &c. 


Ebal,  a  mountain  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  near  Shechem ; 
opposite  mount  Gerizim,  only  the  valley  of  Shechem  lying 
between.  This  mountain  was  the  place  from  which  the 
curses  of  God  were  to  be  proclauned  to  the  children  of  Israel 
on  their  entering  the  land  of  Canaan ;  and  here  also  was  an 
altar  of  twelve  stones  erected,  for  burnt-offerings,  and  on 
which  a  copy  of  the  law  was  Vv^itten  by  Joshua.  Deut.  xxvii. 
Josh.  viii. 

The  two  mountams,  Ebal  and  Gerizim,  are  similar  in  length, 
height,  and  form ;  their  figure  is  a  semicircle,  and  they  are 


140  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY  ECB 

estimated  to  be  about  800  feet  hisfh.  IModern  travellers  have 
not  found  on  them  any  vestig-es  of  building-s. 

Ebenezer,  the  stone  of  help,  a  place  m  the  north  of  Judah, 
near  Bethshemesh,  where  Samuel,  in  remembrance  of  the  de- 
livery of  Israel  from  the  Philistines,  set  up  a  stone,  which  he 
called  Eben-ezer  ;  saying,  "hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us." 
1  Sam.  vii.  11,  12. 

EcBATANA,  or  Aclimethci,  the  ancient  capital  of  Media  ;  said 
to  have  been  built  by  Dejoces,  or  Arphaxad,  the  fourth  king 
of  Media,  after  its  revolt  from  Assyria.  Next  to  Nineveh 
and  Babylon,  this  may  be  considered  the  strongest  and  most 
beautiful  city  of  the  east  in  those  early  times.  It  is  said  to 
have  been  24  miles  in  circuit ;  and  the  walls,  as  described  in 
the  book  of  Judith,  were  70  cubits  high,  and  50  broad,  built 
of  hewn  stones  6  cubits  long  and  3  broad,  with  towers  100 
cubits  high,  and  gates  70  cubits,  and  40  in  breadth.  Accord- 
ing to  Herodotus,  within  this  outer  wall  there  were  six  others 
rising  one  above  another ;  and  in  the  centre  of  the  whole  was 
the  palace,  where  Dejoces  shut  himself  up,  and  made  himself 
invisible  to  his  subjects:  all  the  business  of  state  being  trans- 
acted through  the  means  of  privileged  messengers. 

Ecbatana  continued  to  be  the  residence  of  the  Median  kings 
during  the  reign  of  Dejoces,  Pliraortes,  Cyaxaras  I.,  Astyages, 
and  Cyaxares  II.,  a  period  of  about  170  years.  But  after  the 
union  of  Media  with  Persia,  under  Cyrus  and  his  successors, 
it  was  only  the  summer  residence  of  the  Persian  kings,  being 
preferred  to  Susa,  the  winter  residence,  on  account  of  its  cool- 
ness, lying  further  to  the  north,  and  being  on  much  higher 
ground.  It  w^as  visited  by  Alexander,  in  his  expedition  into 
Asia,  and  it  was  here  that  Jie  barbarously  murdered  his  physi- 
cian for  the  death  of  Hephestion.  The  Seleucidce,  the  suc- 
cessors of  Alexander,  having  fixed  the  seat  of  empire  further 
to  the  west,  Ecbatana  declined,  as  it  conthmed  to  do  under 
the  Parthians.  Its  history  is  obscure  from  the  time  of  the 
Parthians  to  that  of  Timour,  or  Tamerlane,  in  the  14th  cen- 
tury, by  whom  it  was  taken  and  destroyed,  and  has  never 
since  been  of  much  consequence.  It  is  at  present  called  Ha- 
madan,  and  contains  about  40,000  inhabitants.  It  is  a  mart  of 
commerce  between  Ispahan  and  Bagdad,  and  between  the  lat- 
ter and  Teheran. 

Modern  travellers  describe  Ecbatana  as  abounding  in  ruins 
of  great  antiquity,  and  which  fully  confirm  the  accounts  of  its 
ancient  magnificence  and  extent.     Here  are  yet  shown  the 


EDE  DicTioN.ya.Y  OF  the  bible.  141 

tombs  of  Mordecai  and  Esther,  standing  near  the  centre  of  the 
modern  city,  and  covered  by  a  dome,  on  which  is  the  follow- 
ing- inscription  in  Hebrew :  "  This  dvj,  15th  of  the  month 
Adar,  in  the  year  4474  from  the  creation  of  the  world,  was 
finished  the  building  of  this  temple  over  the  graves  of  Mor- 
decai and  Esther,  by  the  hands  of  the  good4iearted  brothers, 
Elias  and  Samuel,  the  sons  of  the  deceased  Tsmael  of  Kashan." 
This  inscription  proves  the  dome  to  have  been  built  1360  years. 
Within  this  building  are  two  sarcophagi,  or  cofnns,  made  of 
a  very  dark  coloured  wood,  evidently  of  great  antiquity,  carved 
with  much  intricacy  of  pattern  and  richness  of  twisted  orna- 
ment, wiili  a  line  of  inscription  in  Hebrew  running  round  the 
upper  ledge  of  each.  Many  other  inscriptions  in  the  same 
language,  are  cut  on  the  walls ;  v/hile  one  of  the  most  ancient, 
engraved  on  a  slab  of  white  marble,  is  let  into  the  wall  itself. 
Tills  inscription  is  as  follows :  "  Mordecai,  beloved  and  honour- 
ed by  a  king,  was  great  and  good.  His  garments  Vv'ere  as 
those  of  a  sovereign.  Ahasuerus  covered  him  with  this  rich 
dress,  and  also  placed  a  golden  cham  around  his  neck.  The 
city  of  Susa  rejoiced  at  his  honours,  and  his  high  fortune 
became  the  glory  of  the  Jews."  The  inscriptions  on  the  ccrf- 
fins  of  Mordecai  and  Esther  contain  their  names,  and  several 
;pious  sentences,  expressive  of  their  trust  in  God  ;  with  some 
references  to  particular  incidents  in  their  lives.  The  key  of 
these  tombs  is  always  kept  by  the  head  person  of  the  Jews 
resident  in  Hamadan ;  and  on  the  day  of  the  feast  of  Purim, 
which  is  kept  on  the  l&th  and  14th  of  the  month  Adar,  to 
commemorate  the  deliverance  of  the  Jews  irom  the  general 
massacre  ordered  by  Ahasuerus  ;  Jev/ish  pilgrim.s  resort 
from  all  quarters  to  the  tombs  of  Mordecai  and  Esther,  by 
whose  intercession  they  were  rescued.  This  custom  has  ex- 
isted for  centuries,  and  is  a  strong  presumptive  proof  that  the 
tradition  of  their  burial  at  this  place  rests  on  some  authentic 
foundation. 

Eden,  the  country  in  Avhich  the  garden  was  situated,  which 
was  the  first  abode  of  Adam  and  Eve  after  the  creation.  In 
addition  to  v/hat  has  been  said  on  this  subject  in  Part  I.  we 
may  observe,  that  Vv'hatever  difference  of  opinion  may  exist 
with  regard  to  the  exact  position  of  the  garden.,  we  think 
there  can  be  little  ditnculty  in  deciding  upon  the  countnj  of 
Eden.  The  sacred  historian  says,  "  God  planted  a  garden 
eastward  in  Eden ;"  which  term  eastward  will  apply  to  any 
cf  the  countries  on  the  Euphrates,  from  Armenia  to  Babylo- 


142  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  EGlf 

nia ;  and  as  nothing  more  is  said  of  it  in  this  place,  we  must 
endeavour  to  discover  its  position  from  what  is  said  in  other 
passages  where  the  word  Eden  occurs.  Eden  is  mentioned 
in  2  Kings  xix.  12.  in  conjunction  with  Gozan,  Haran,  and 
Rezeph ;  the  situation  of  which  is  well  known,  and  may  fur- 
nish a  key  to  the  other.  Gozan  was  in  Media;  and  Rezeph 
or  Rezipha,  and  Haran,  in  Mesopotamia ;  and  it  seems  quite 
plain  that  in  this  passage,  Sennacherib  was  describing  his  con- 
quests on  the  eastern  and  northern  borders  of  his  kingdom, 
from  Media  to  the  Upper  Euphrates.  In  Ezekiel  xxvii.  Eden 
is  again  mentioned  in  conjunction  v/ith  Haran,  together  with 
Canneh,  Sheba,  Ashur,  and  Chilmad.  Canneh  was  in  Me- 
sopotamia ;  Sheba  and  Chilmad  are  obscure ;  but  Ashur  still 
confines  us  to  the  upper  part  of  the  Euphrates  or  Tigris.  It 
is  quite  sufficient  that  from  all  this  we  can  determine,  that 
the  only  country  of  Eden  mentioned  in  Scripture,  to  which 
the  term  eastvrard  can  be  applied  with  respect  to  Canaan  or 
its  vicinity,  where  ]\Ioses  wrote,  was  not  in  Babylonia,  but 
somewhere  in  Media,  Armenia,  or  Mesopotamia. 

Eden,  a  valley  in  Syria,  between  the  mountains  of  Libanus 
and  Anti-Libanus,  not  far  from  Damascus.  This  place  is  re- 
ferred to  in  Amos  i.  5.  Huetius  observes,  that  this  valley  de- 
served the  name  of  Eden,  or  rather  Beth  Eden,  the  house  of 
pleasure,  by  reason  of  its  fertility  and  pleasantness. 

Edom,  the  country  possessed  by  the  descendants  of  Esau. 
See  Part  1.  p.  36. 

Edrei,  a  city  east  of  Jordan,  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Man- 
asseh.  (Josh.  xiii.  31.)  This  city,  and  Ashtaroth,  were  the 
two  capitals  of  the  kingdom  of  Bashan.  There  was  also  a 
city  of  this  name  in  thelribe  of  Naphtali.  Josh.  xix.  87. 

Eglaim,  (Josh.  XV.  39.)  or  GaUim,  (1  Sam.  x.w.  44.)  a  city 
in  the  Land  of  Moab,  east  of  tlie  Dead  Sea. 

Eglon,  a  city  taken  by  Joshua,    See  Part.  I.  p.  57. 

Egypt,  a  country  in  the  north  of  Africa  ;  bounded  north  by 
the  Mediterranean  sea;  east  by  the  Red  Sea  and  the  Isthmus 
of  Suez ;  soutli  by  Ethiopia ;  and  west  by  Libya ;  being  about 
700  miles  in  length  and  250  in  breadth.  This  country  is 
called  in  the  Hebrew  Scriptures,  the  Land  of  Misraim,  and 
the  Land  of  Ham ;  by  the  Turks  and  Arabs  at  tlie  present 
day,  Masr,  and  Misr ;  and  by  the  native  Egyptians,  Chemi,  or 
the  Land  of  Ham.  The  name  Egypt  is  supposed  to  be  de- 
rived from  the  Greek  word  aia,  signifying  a  land  or  country 
and  KOPTCs,  the  name  of  a  city  in  Egypt ;  which  was  softened 


EGY  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  ^  143 

by  the  Greeks  into  aigtjptos,  from  which  the  Latins  made 
iEgyptus.  Faber  derives  the  name  from  ai-capht,  or  the  land 
of  the  Caphtorim,  from  which  also  the  modern  Egyptians  de- 
rive their  name  of  Cophts.  Otliers  suppose  the  name  to  have 
been  originally,  ai-gupt,  the  land  of  the  vulture,  or  hawk, 
which  was  the  national  emblem  of  Egypt,  and  considered  as 
its  tutelary  divinity. 

This  country  was  first  peopled  after  the  deluge  by  Misraim, 
or  Misr,  the  son  of  Ham ;  who  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  as 
Menes,  recorded  in  the  Egyptian  history  as  the  first  king. 
The  subsequent  history  and  condition  of  the  country,  for 
many  ages,  is  involved  in  fable ;  but  from  the  most  authentic 
accounts,  it  appears  that  it  was  governed  by  its  own  princes, 
for  about  100  years  from  the  time  of  Misraim,  when  it  was 
subdued  by  the  shepherds  or  Cushites,  w^ho  invaded  it  from 
Arabia  or  Chaldea;  and  after  ruling  it  for  many  years,  were 
expelled  by  Amosis.  The  historian  Manetho,  as  cited  by  Jo- 
sephus,  speaks  of  this  invasion  of  the  shepherds,  who,  he  says, 
were  called  Hyc-sos,  that  is,  shepherd  kings ;  and  makes  their 
residence  in  Egypt  to  amount  to  511  years. 

It  was  during  the  reign  of  one  of  the  kings  of  the  shepherd 
race,  called  Pharaoh  in  Scripture,  as  were  all  the  Egyptian 
kings,  that  Abraham  went  into  Egypt  with  his  wife  Sarah, 
being  driven  out  of  the  Land  of  Canaan  by  famine.  About 
190  years  after  this,  and  very  soon  after  the  expulsion  of  the 
shepherds,  Joseph  was  brought  into  Egypt  as  a  slave  by  the 
Ishmaelites,  to  whom  his  bretiiren  had  sold  him ;  and  the  prin- 
cipal events  recorded  of  his  life,  are  handed  dowm  by  tradi- 
tions yet  existing  in  the  country.  After  he  had  risen  from 
this  humble  station,  to  that  of  governor  of  Egypt,  Jacob,  his 
father,  with  all  his  family,  amounting  to  70  persons,  came  into 
Egypt  at  his  invitation,  that  they  might  spend  the  remaining 
five  of  the  seven  years  of  famine  in  plenty.  They  had  a  se- 
parate residence  assigned  them  in  the  east  of  Egypt,  not  being 
permitted  to  reside  with  the  people  of  the  country,  "  every 
shepherd  being  an  abomination  to  the  Egyptians."  The  reason 
of  this  dislike  probably  arose  from  their  long  subjection  to  the 
shepherd  kings  before  mentioned,  whose  principal  residence 
was  in  this  pastoral  district  of  Goshen;  or  at  least  they  were 
concentrated  here,  previous  to  their  final  expulsion  from  the 
country. 

In  this  fertile  land  the  Israelites  "  increased  abundantly, 
and  multiplied,  and  waxed  exceeding  mighty ;  and  the  land 


144  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  EGY 

was  filled  with  them."  They  had  been  well  treated,  and  en- 
joyed their  own  territory,  and  their  own  religion,  and  fed  their 
own  flocks  in  peace. 

But  after  this  there  came  a  new  king  "  who  knew  not 
Joseph,"  and  by  whom  the  children  of  Israel  were  reduced  to 
a  state  of  bitter  bondage,  aliiicting  them  with  burdens,  and 
settuig  over  them  task-masters,  &c.  This  "  new  king"  was 
probably  the  first  of  a  new  dynasty  of  Philitim,  or  eastern 
shepherds,  who,  according  to  Manetlio,  invaded  Egypt  a 
second  time,  and  held  it  till  they  were  finally  expelled,  about 
the  time  that  the  Israelites  quitted  Egypt ;  the  last  king  of  the 
race  being  that  Pharaoh  who  was  drowned  in  the  Red  Sea 
with  all  his  army.  It  is  highly  probable  that  tlio  native 
Egyptians  seized  this  occasion,  when  the  government  of  their 
oppressor  was  weakened  by  the  destruction  of  the  king  and 
his  army,  to  expel  the  tyrannical  invaders  from  their  comitry 
a  second  time. 

The  successor  of  this  Pharaoh  was  the  celebrated  Sesostris, 
one  of  the  most  famous  conquerors  of  antiquity,  who  carried 
his  arms  over  a  great  part  of  Asia,  and  even  penetrated  into 
Europe,  which  no  eastern  monarch  had  done  before.  Nothing 
of  consequence,  as  connected  with  Scripture  history,  occurs 
after  this,  (except  the  marriage  of  Solomon  with  the  daughter 
of  one  of  the  Pharaohs,)  for  the  space  of  about  470  years, 
when  Shishak  invaded  Judea  with  an  immense  army  of 
Egyptians  and  other  African  nations.  (2  Chron.  xii.)  In  the 
reign  of  Hezekiah,  king  of  Judah,  about  724  before  Christ, 
Sebachon  the  Ethiopian  conquered  Egypt,  and  united  the 
two  countries  under  one  prince.  This  is  the  king  called  in 
Scripture,  So ;  with  wliom  Hoshea  entered  into  alliance  in 
order  to  shake  off  the  Assyrian  yoke.  (2  Kings  xvii.  4.)  In 
the  reign  of  Sevechus,  the  son  of  Sebachon  or  So,  Senna- 
cherib, king  of  Assyria,  invaded  Egypt  and  ravaged  the  coun- 
try, destroying  the  city  of  No,  as  mentioned  by  the  prophet 
Nahum.  Not  long  after  this  we  find  Pliaraoli  Neclio,  who 
was  the  son  and  successor  of  Psammeticus,  invading  the  do- 
minions of  the  eastern  princes,  and  fatally  vanquishing  Josiah 
king  of  Judah,  at  ]\Iegiddo.  (2  Chron.  xxxv.  21.)  This  prince 
extended  his  conquests  to  the  Euphrates,  but  was  overcome 
by  Nebuchadnezzarof  Babylon,  and  driven  back  to  bis  own  fron- 
tier, after  wlrich,  says  the  Scripture,  "  the  king  of  Egypt  came 
not  again  any  more  out  of  his  land."  (2  Kings  xxiv.  7.)  This 
eeems  to  have  terminated  the  power  of  Egypt,  which  nwer 


EGY  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  l45 

afterwards  appeared  as  a  conquering,  and  not  long  as  an  in- 
dependent country. 

In  the  year  525  before  Christ,  Egypt  was  invaded  by  the 
Persians,  under  Cyrus;  by  whom  it  was  held  until  conquered 
by  Alexander  the  Great,  B.  C.  332 ;  Avho  built  Alexandria, 
and  conferred  many  favours  on  the  country,  by  which  it  was 
much  improved. 

On  the  death  of  Alexander,  Ptolemy  governed  Egypt  as  a 
province,  and  at  last  assumed  the  title  of  king.  His  descend- 
ants occupied  the  throne  for  294  years,  until  Egypt  became  a 
Roman  province,  after  the  death  of  Cleopatra.  During  the 
dynasty  of  the  Ptolemies,  this  country  again  enjoyed  some- 
thing of  its  former  renown  for  learning  and  power.  The  first 
of  the  race,  Ptolemy  Soter,  was  just,  prudent,  and  merciful — ■■ 
rare  qualities  m  eastern  princes  in  those  days.  During  his 
long  reign  of  40  years,  he  did  much  for  Egypt,  especially  for 
the  capital,  Alexandria ;  where  he  founded  a  college  for  the 
study  of  philosophy  and  the  sciences ;  and  made  the  first  col^ 
lections  towards  the  library,  which  afterwards  became  so 
famous  for  its  magnificence  and  for  its  unfortunate  fate.  The 
second  Ptolemy,  surnamed  Philadelphus,  pursued  the  mea- 
sures of  his  father  for  the  improvement  of  learning  and  com* 
merce.  He  made  such  additions  to  the  library,  that  at  the 
time  of  his  death  it  amounted  to  100,000  volumes ;  amongst 
which  was  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  Jews ;  and  it  was  he 
who  caused  the  Greek  version  of  the  Scriptures  to  be  made 
at  Alexandria,  which  goes  by  the  name  of  the  Septuaguit, 
from  the  LXX.  persons  employed  in  the  translation.  The 
third  of  the  Ptolemies  was  Euergetes,  who,  like  his  predeces- 
sors, was  a  friend  and  supporter  of  learning ;  but  after  him 
the  race  degenerated,  and  that  ray  of  light  and  liberty  which 
had  dawned  upon  Egypt  was  extinguished ;  his  successors 
being  generally  cruel  and  vicious.  Cleopatra  was  the  last  of 
the  race,  and  at  her  death  Egypt  was  made  a  Roman  province 
by  Csesar  Octavianus,  30  years  before  Christ.  It  was  under 
the  Roman  government  when  visited  by  Joseph  and  Mary, 
with  the  infant  Jesus ;  and  continued  annexed  to  that  empire 
for  about  470  years ;  when,  in  the  reign  of  the  emperor  Hera- 
clius,  it  was  conquered  by  the  Arabs  under  Amrou,  the  gene- 
ral of  the  Saracen  Caliph,  Omar.  The  Saracens  retained  it 
under  subjection  till  the  year  A.  D.  1250,  when  the  Mame- 
lukes or  foreign  guards,  deposed  the  sultan,  overthrew  the 
government,  and  appointed  a  sultan  of  their  own.     This  form 

N 


146  SCRlPTtRE   GEOGRAPiir.  EG¥ 

of  government  continued  till  the  year  1517,  when  the  Mame- 
lukes were  reduced  by  the  Turks,  and  Egypt  was  annexed 
to  the  Ottoman  empire.  It  was  g-overned  by  a  succession  of 
pachas,  and  gradually  declined  in  the  scale  of  prosperity  and 
power.  The  invasion  and  temporary  occupation  of  Egypt  by 
Napoleon  Bonaparte,  must  be  familiar  to  every  reader;  as 
must  likewise  be  tliose  more  recent  events  which  have  re- 
vived in  a  degree  the  importance  of  Egypt,  and  which,  under 
the  vigorous  government  of  her  present  ruler,  have  effected 
her  virtual  independence  of  Turkey. 

Eg'ypt  appears  to  have  been,  at  a  very  early  period,  the  seat 
of  science  and  learning;  as  we  read  in  Scripture  that  Moses 
"  was  learned  in  all  the  Vv'isdora  of  the  Egyptians ;"  and  it  is 
remarkable  that  our  first  acquaintance  witli  this  people  intro- 
duces us  to  them  as  a  people  already  arrived,  comparatively, 
at  a  high  degree  of  excellence  in  every  branch  of  useful  and 
refined  knowledge.  Astronomy,  agriculture,  medicine,  juris- 
prudence, architecture,  geometry,  painting,  and  sculpture, 
with  many  useful  and  ornamental  manufactures,  were  carried 
to  a  degree  of  perfection  in  which,  for  many  centuries  at 
least,  they  must  have  remained  umequalled  by  the  other  na- 
tions of  the  earth.  The  Chaldeans  were  their  early  rivals  in 
the  sciences,  and  the  Sidonians  and  Tyrians,  in  the  arts,  man- 
ufactures, and  commerce. 

This  country  was  also  fortunate  in  its  geographical  position,- 
which,  forming  the  centre  of  communication  between  the  east 
and  the  west,  rave  it  a  more  extended  intercourse  with  the 
Imown  parts  of  the  earth.  It  v/as  much  favoured  by  the  share 
which  it  enjoyed  of  the  trade  with  the  east ;  the  products 
of  w^hich,  hiv%  arriving  at  the  Assyrian  or  Chaldean  capitals, 
were  from  tlience  conveyed  to  Egypt  by  the  Cushite,  and 
afterwards  by  tjie  Midianite  and  Ishmaelite  traders,  who, 
like  their  descendants,  tlie  Arabs  of  the  present  day,  witli 
their  caravaas  of  horses  and  camels,  were  the  common  carri- 
ers of  all  that  part  of  the  world.  To  a  party  of  these  travel 
ling  merchants  was  Josei)h  sold ;  and  of  the  same  people  Isai- 
ah speaks  as  the  "  travelling  companies  of  Dedanim,"  (chap, 
xxi.)  descendants  of  Dedan,  the  grandson  of  Cush,  or  of  De- 
dan,  the  son  of  Jokshan,  the  brother  of  Midian.  But  perhaps 
a  still  greater  cause  of  the  wealth  and  prosperity  of  Egypt, 
was  the  astonishing  fertility  of  its  soil,  which  was  such  as  to 
afford  immense  supplies  to  the  neighbouring  countries,  parti- 
cularly Syria  and  Arabia ;    and  in  times  of  famine,    which 


EGY  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  14T 

were  frcquenl  in  those  countries,  Egypt  alone  could  support 
their  numerous  popalation  from  perishing-  with  hanger.  We 
have  an  aitecting  example  of  this  in  the  story  of  tlie  children 
of  Jacob.  For  this  extraordinary  and  unceasing  fertility, 
Egypt,  otherwise  one  of  the  driest  and  most  barren  countries 
in  the  world,  was  indebted  to  its  river,  the  Nile,  whose  peri- 
odical inundation  gave  to  the  soil  which  it  watered,  that  won- 
derful fertility  which  enabled  it  to  support  a  population  many 
times  greater  than  its  own,  numerous  as  it  must  have  been; 
since  the  children  of  Israel,  who  occupied  but  a  corner  of  the 
land,  amounted,  at  the  time  of  their  leaving  Egypt,  to  600,000 
grown-up  men;  from  which  the  whole  number  of  Israelites 
alone  cannot  be  estimated  at  less  than  two  millions.  The 
extraordinary  fertility  of  the  soil  is  alluded  to  in  Gen.  xli.  47. 
*'  The  earth  brought  forth  by  handfuls."  Modern  travellers 
have  fomid  sixteen  and  eighteen  stalks  of  wheat  springing  up 
from  a  single  grain  of  seed.  Bat  the  great  reservoirs  c^ 
water,  or  artificial  lakes,  which  once  were  employed  for 
watering  the  fields,  as  the  Moeris,  Bahira,  and  Mareotis,  were, 
under  the  misrule  of  Turkey,  suffered  to  be  materially  impair- 
ed :  and  of  80  canals  used  for  watering  the  country,  several  of 
which  were  60,  99,  and  120  niiles  long,  all,  excepting  six,  are 
nearly  filled  up. 

As  Egypt  was  the  parent  of  the  sciences,  so  it  was  of  that 
system  of  polytheism  and  idolatry  which  afterwards  spread 
over  the  nations.  This  was  probably  introduced  tirst  by  the 
Cushite  invaders  of  the  country,  or  possibly  by  Misraim  him- 
self. The  worship  of  the  heavenly  luminaries  seems  to  have 
been  the  first  species  of  worship  after  the  departure  of  man- 
kind from  the  true  God,  and  seems  to  have  had  its  origin  with 
the  Cushite  builders  of  the  tower  of  Babel.  Their  sacred 
hills  and  high  towers  gave  them  a  greater  view  of  the  hea- 
vens, and  brouo'ht  them,  as  they  thought,  into  a  nearer  com- 
munication with  their  starry  deities.  On  these  elevations 
sacrifices  were  offered,  which  they  deemed  the  more  accept- 
able in  proportion  to  the  loftiness  of  the  altar.  This  was  the 
origin  of  all  the  "  high  places"  of  the  heathen  world,  so  fre- 
quently mentioned  in  Scripture ;  of  the  first  tov/er  of  Babel, 
of  that  of  Bel  us  at  Babylon,  of  the  Indian  pagoda,  of  the  Egyp- 
tian pyramid,  of  the  great  altar  or  pyramid  of  the  Mexicans, 
and  of  the  Moral  of  Otaheite.  The  next  descent  was  to  that 
of  idolatry,  or  the  adoration  of  visible  representations  of  the 
heavenly  bodies,  to  whicli  the  nam.es  Baal,  Adar,  Nebo,  Gad, 


i 


148  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  EGY 

Ashtaroth,  &c.  were  g-iven.  The  next  step  was  the  canoni- 
zation and  worship  of  hero-gods,  and  deified  mortals,  wliose 
bodies  the  Egyptian  priests  atlirmed  that  they  had  in  their 
possession,  embalmed  and  deposited  in  their  sepulchres;  such 
as  Chronus,  Rhea,  Osiris,  Isis,  &c.  Besides  these  were  eight 
others,  whom  the  Egyptians  called  demi-gods,  to  whom  Dio- 
dorus  gives  the  names  of  Sol,  Saturnus,  Rhea,  Jupiter,  Juno, 
Vulcanus,  Vesta,  and  Mercurius ;  which  in  fiict  are  only 
other  names  for  the  hero-gods ;  and  who  are  said  to  have 
reigned  in  Egypt  before  Menes  or  Misraim.  This  system  of 
false  theology  was  received  from  the  Egyptians  by  the  Greeks, 
and  from  them  communicated  to  the  Romans. 

The  wonder  of  Egypt,  the  pyramids,  are  situated  on  a 
rocky  plain,  about  three  miles  from  the  village  of  Gizeb,  on 
the  western  side  of  the  Nile,  and  four  miles  south-west  of 
Cairo.  They  are  called  by  the  Arabs  Dgehel  Pkaraon,  and 
by  the  Turks  Pharaen  Doglary,  that  is,  Pharaoh's  moun- 
tains. Tliree  of  them  are  larger  than  the  othei^,  and  may  be 
seen  from  Cairo,  and  a  great  distance  beyond  it.  Of  these 
three  pyramids,  two  are  closed ;  but  the  largest  is  open,  and 
is  that  which  travellers  ascend  and  enter  into.  There  are 
several  smaller  ones  in  the  neighbourhood,  which  have  been 
opened,  and  are  almost  entirely  ruined;  but  there  are  four 
yet  remaining  which  deserve  the  greatest  attention.  These 
four  stand  nearly  in  a  direct  line,  and  are  about  400  paces 
distant  from  one  another.  Tlieir  four  faces  correspond  pre- 
cisely to  the  four  points  of  tlie  compass,  north,  south,  east, 
and  Vv'est.  The  two  most  northerly  are  the  largest,  being 
about  500  feet  in  perpendicular  Jieight,  and  700  on  each  side 
at  the  base.  Tlie  external  part  is  chiefly  built  of  great  square 
stones,  cut  from  the  rocks  along  the  Nile,  and  the  quarries 
from  which  they  have  been  taken  are  still  visible.  The 
opening  or  entrance  to  the  first  pyramid  is  on  the  north  side, 
and  leads  successively  to  five  different  passages,  which, 
though  running  upwards,  and  downwards,  and  horizontally 
all  tend  towards  the  south,  and  terminate  in  two  chambers, 
the  one  underneath,  and  the  other  in  the  midst  of  the  pyramid. 
In  one  of  these  chambers  is  a  sarco[)hagus  of  granite,  six  feet 
lonir,  three  wide,  and  four  deep,  formed  of  a  single  stone, 
without  any  ornament,  and  smoothly  hollowed  out.  Near 
this  is  a  deep  hole  or  well,  which  appears  to  lead  to  some 
cavity  underneath,   which   has  not  been  explored.     About 


BGY 


DICTIONARY   OF   THE    BIBLE. 


149 


N2 


150  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  EGl^ 

three  hundred  paces  east  of  tlie  second  pyramid,  stands  the 
head  of  the  famous  sphinx,  carved  out  of  the  solid  rock, 
Uventy-six  feet  high,  and  twelve  m  circumference  round  tho 
nead.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  these  pyramids  are  many 
others  of  different  sizes,  built  of  large  bricks  made  of  clay 
mixed  with  chopped  straw,  and  hardened  by  the  heat  of  the 
feun.  One  of  these  is  little  inferior  in  size  to  the  largest  men- 
tioned above,  but  they  are  more  damaged,  and  probably  more 
ancient.  They  do  not  appear  to  have  been  so  neatly  finished 
or  so  well  contrived  as  the  others. 

There  are  many  splendid  and  magnificent  ruins  scattered 
over  this  country,  which  give  proof  of  the  high  cultivation 
enjoyed  by  the  ancient  inhabitants.  The  art  of  embalming 
dead  bodies,  m  which  the  ancient  Egyptians  excelled,  is  now 
miknow^n.  The  mummy  pits  or  caverns  contain  the  genera- 
tions which  are  gone,  and  some  of  tliese  embalmed  bodies  are 
perfectly  preserved,  though  they  liave  been  dead  three 
thousand  years. 

The  southern  or  upper  part  of  Egypt  is  extremely  rocky 
and  arid ;  but  lower  down  it  becomes  more  level  and  produc- 
tive; and  where  the  Nile  divides  into  several  streams,  it 
embraces  that  part  of  Egypt  wliich  was  called  by  the  Greeks 
the  Delta,  from  a  fancied  resemblance  to  the  letter  a.  This 
is  a  vast  plain,  fertilized  by  the  Nile,  containing  numerous 
villages,  and  yielding  abundance  of  grain  and  other  produc- 
tions. 

The  present  inhabitants  of  Egypt  may  be  distinguished  into 
three  classes :  1.  Tlie  Cophts  or  Copts,  descendants  of  the 
ancient  Egyptians,  who  have  lived  for  more  than  two  thou- 
sand years  under  the  dominion  of  different  foreign  conquerors, 
and  who  have  experienced  many  changes  of  fortune.  They 
have  lost  their  manners,  language,  and  religion ;  and  are  re- 
duced to  a  small  number,  compared  with  the  Arabs,  who  have 
poured  like  a  flood  over  the  country.  2.  The  Fellahs,  or  hus- 
bandmen, who  are  possibly  the  people  called  in  Scripture 
Phul.  This  class  suffers  much  oppression,  being  despised 
by  both  Arabs  and  Turks;  they  seldom  acquire  property, 
and  if  they  do,  tlioy  are  not  suffered  to  enjoy  it.  3.  The 
Arab  conquerors  of  the  country,  including  Turks,  jNIame- 
lukes,  &c.  Previously  to  the  recent  changes  in  the  political 
condition  of  Egypt,  the  Turks  were  in  possession  of  most  of 
the  offices  under  the  government ;  but  the  policy  of  the  pre- 


EGY 


DICTIONARY   OF  THE   BIBLE, 


151 


sent  ruler  of  Egypt  tends  to  the  encouragement  and  promo- 
tion of  any  other  Europeans  rather  than  Turks.  A  great 
many  Frenchmen,  in  particular,  have  been  patronized  by  thp, 
present  pacha ;  and  lie  does  not  hesitate  to  avail  himself  of 
their  services  both  in  the  civil  and  military  departments  of 
fi-is  government. 

This  is  an  extremely  curi- 
f  us  medal,  of  silver,  struck 
Si  Egypt  before  the  reigns 
of  tlie  Ptolemies.  It  repre- 
etnts  on  one  side  a  man  on 
horseback,  and  on  the  other 
an  ox  of  the  humped  kind 
jying  down:  between  his 
horns  is  the  lunar  crescent, 
and  within  that  is  a  globe. 
These  sj^mbols  clearly  refer 
ihis  ox  to  Egypt.  The  man  on  horseback  is  the  most  smguiar  part  of 
this  medal ;  none  of  the  countries  adjacent  having  adopted  the  type  of 
a  horseman.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  letters  on  this 
medal  are  Persian,  and  that  the  person  represented  is  Aryandes, 
governor  of  Egypt  under  Darius,  the  last  king  of  Persia,  who  then  pos- 
sessed this  coimtry,  and  who  caused  the  governor  to  be  put  to  death  for 
coining  money  inhis  own  name. 


These  medals  represent  the  figure  or  divinity  of  the  river  Nile,  seated 
n  the  hippopotamus  and  the  crocodile,  both  of  which  were  character- 
istic symbols  of  Egypt.  The  crocodile  w"as  adopted  as  an  emblem  of 
the  country,  and  there  is  no  other  river  known  to  antiquity  to  which 
the  hippopotamus  can  be  referred.  To  show  the  rider  seated  equally 
on  each,  proves  an  equal  adoption  of  both:  and  as  the  crocodile  is  um 
versaliy  allowed  to  be  the  leviathan,  we  may  suppose  the  hippopotamus 
is  the  behemoth,  of  the  book  of  Job. 


152 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


EKR 


No.  4. 


The  inscription  on  this  medal,  zeus  serapis,  points  at  the  original 
divinity  of  Jupiter;  the  measure  on  the  head  of  Serapis  is  probably  the 
cup,  -which  certain  figures  hold  in  their  hands,  transferred  to  the  head 
Before  this  figure  is  a  Si)hinx'.  Another  medal  resembling  this,  hi- 
scribed,  helios  serapis,  proves  that  Serapis  was  the  sun.  The  head 
on  this  medal  is  Vespasian. 

This  medal  is  of  gold.  The  liead  is  one 
of  the  Lagids,  kings  of  Eg}'pt :  the  reverse 
is  a  reaper  cutting  corn.  The  type  of  the 
reaper  is  uncommon,  and  is  only  found  on 
another  medal  of  brass,  struck  also  in  Egypt ; 
the  fertility  of  which  country  is  alluded  to. 
But  this  type  is  peculiarly  interesting  to  us, 
when  we  observe  that  the  ears  of  corn  which 
mark  this  fertility  are  sevcji  in  number;  thus  seeming  to  refer  to  the 
dream  of  Pharaoh,  and  the  interprelalion  of  it  by  Joseph. 

Egypt,  River  of:  Sec  Part  I.  p.  32. 

Ekron,  the  most  northern  of  the  five  lordships  or  govern- 
ments of  the  Philistines.  In  the  division  of  the  country  by 
Joshna,  this  city  fell  to  the  lot  of  Judah,  (Josh,  xv.  45.)  but 
was  afterwards  given  to  Dan ;  though  it  does  not  appear  that 
the  Israelites  were  ever  in  peaceable  possession  of  it  It  was 
a  strong  city,  and  was  situated  very  near  the  Mediterranean, 
between  Ashdod  and  Jamnia ;  but  all  vestiges  of  it  have  been 
extinct  for  many  centuries.  Zcphaniah  prophesied  tliat 
"Ekron  shotild  be  rooted  up,"  (chap.  ii.  4.)  This  city  was 
celebrated  for  the  worship  of  Baal-zebub,  or  the  a^od  of  flies, 
as  the  name  imports.  lie  seems  to  have  been  their  Escula- 
pius,  or  god  of  medicine,  as  he  was  consulted  by  Ahaziah, 
king  of  Israel,  concerning  his  health.  (2  Kings  i.  2.)  Ekron 
was  called  Accaron  by  the  Greeks,  and  was  then  a  consider- 
able town. 


EMI  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  153 

Elah,  tlie  name  of  the  valley  wliere  the  Israelites  were 
encamped  when  David  fought  Goliah.  This  valley,  still  un- 
altered in  appearance,  is  situated  three  miles  from  Bethlehem, 
on  the  road  to  Jaffa ;  and  many  a  pilgrim,  journeying  from 
Jaffa  to  Jerusalem,  has  stopped  to  diink  of  its  venerable  brook, 

Elam,  the  original  country  of  the  Persians,  whence  they 
spread  over  Persia,  or  Phars,  and  Susiana.  Chedorlaomer,  of 
whom  we  read  in  Gen.  xiv.  was  of  this  country.  Elam  de- 
rives its  name  from  Elam,  the  son  of  Shem,  and  is  used  in 
Scripture  to  denote  the  kingdom  of  Persia,  before  the  time  of 
Cyrus  and  the  prophet  Daniel ;  after  which  it  is  generally 
called  by  its  Greek  name  of  Persia.    See  Persia. 

Elath,  or  Eloth,  a  port  of  Edom  on  the  eastern  branch  of 
the  Red  Sea.   See  Part  I.  p.  47. 

Elealeh,  a  town  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Reuben.  (Numb, 
xxxii.  37.)  According  to  Eusebius  it  was  situated  nearHesh- 
bon ;  and  the  traveller  Burckhardt  found  its  ruins,  yet  called 
El-aal,  on  the  summit  of  a  hill,  about  two  miles  north-east  of 
Heshbon. 

Eleutherus,  a  river  in  Syria,  the  source  of  which  lies  be- 
tween the  mountains  Libanus  and  Anti-Libanus.  (1  Mace.  xi. 
7.)  It  flowed  through  this  valley,  and  emptied  into  the  Medi- 
terranean. 

Elim,  one  of  the  encampments  of  Israel  in  the  wilderness 
See  Part  I.  p.  44. 

Elisha,  Isles  of:  See  Part  I.  p.  18. 

Ellasar,  a  country  of  which  Arioch  was  king,  and  who  is 
mentioned  in  conjunction  with  the  kings  of  Shinar  and  Elam. 
(Gen.  xiv.  1.)  It  would  appear  from  this,  that  Ellasar  must 
refer  to  some  adjoining  region,  and  it  is  probable  that  it  was 
Assyria,  or  El-asur :  then  a  petty  state,  compared  with  tho 
subsequent  empire  of  that  name. 

Elon,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  and  another  in  the  tribe 
of  Naphtali. 

Eltekeh,  a  city  of  Dan,  given  to  the  Levites. 

Elteko.n,  a  town  in  Judah,  on  the  border  of  Benjamin. 

Eltolad,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  afterwards  given  to 
Simeon. 

Elymais,  the  capital  of  Elam,  the  ancient  Persia.  1  Mace. 
n.  1. 

Emims,  a  gigantic  people,  inhabiting  the  country  east  and 
south-east  of  the  Dead  Sea;  whence  they  were  either  ex- 
pelled by  the  Moabites,  or  incorporated  with  them.  (Deut.  ii. 


154  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  ENH 

10.)  The  origin  of  this  people  is  not  clearly  known,  but  they 
probably  descended  from  Ham. 

Emmaus,  a  village  about  eight  miles  north-east  of  Jerusa- 
lem, celebrated  for  the  appearance  of  our  Lord,  after  his  re- 
surrection, to  two  of  the*  disciples.  (Luke  xxiv.  13.)  There 
was  another  place  of  this  name  at  the  hot-baths  near  Tiberias, 
called  by  the  Greeks  Ammaus,  by  the  Hebrews  Chammath, 
and  by  the  modern  Arabs,  Hamman. 

Enam,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  34. 

Endor,  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  JManasseh,  west  ot 
Jordan,  (Josh.  xvii.  11.)  where  Saul  went  to  consult  a  woman 
who  had  a  familiar  spirit.  (1  Sam.  xxviii.  13.)  This  place 
was  four  miles  south  of  Mount  Tabor. 

En-eglaim,  a  place  near  En-gedi.  (Ezek.  xlvii.  10.)  Jerom 
says  it  was  near  the  place  where  the  river  Jordan  empties  into 
the  Dead  Sea. 

En-gannim,  the  name  of  two  cities :  one  belonging  to  the 
tribe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  34.)  the  other  to  Issachar,  given  to 
the  Levites  of  Gershon's  family.  Josh.  xxi.  29. 

En-gedi,  otherwise  called  Hazczon-tamar,  a  cit}^  in  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  situated  in  a  hilly  country  about  30  miles  south-east 
of  Jerusalem,  and  not  fur  from  the  Dead  Sea.  To  tlie  "  strong 
holds"  in  the  neighbourhood  of  this  place,  David  retired  to 
secure  himself  from  the  presence  of  Saul ;  and  in  a  cave  at 
this  place  he  gave  that  jealous  king  a  proof  of  his  loyalty,  when 
he  had  him  so  completely  in  his  power  as  to  cut  oif  a  part  of 
his  garment,  but  did  him  no  furtlier  injury.  (1  Sam.  xxiv.) 
This  cave  was  so  large  as  to  contain  in  its  recesses  the  whole 
of  David's  men,  600  in  number,  unperccived  by  Saul  when  he 
entered.  Many  such  caves  exist  in  the  Holy  Land,  which, 
being  mountainous  and  rocky,  abounds  with  caverns  in  differ- 
ent parts.  Josephus  tells  us  of  a  numerous  gang  of  banditti, 
who,  having  infested  the  country,  were  pursued  by  the  army 
of  Herod,  and  retired  into  certain  caverns  in  Galilee,  almost 
inaccessible,  where  with  great  difficulty  they  were  subdued. 
Into  such  caves  the  Israelites  frequently  retired  for  shelter 
from  their  enemies,  (Judges  vi.  2.  1  Sam.  xiii.  6.  and  xiv.  11.) 
a  circumstance  which  has  afforded  a  line  image  of  terror  and 
consternation  to  the  prophets.  Isa.  ii.  19.  llosea  x.  8.  Rev. 
\\.  15,  16. 

En-haddaii,  a  city  belonginir  to  the  tribe  of  Issacliar.  Josh. 
xix.  21. 


EPH  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  155 

En-hakkore,  the  well  of  him.wJio  cried ;  the  name  of  the 
well  which  was  miraculously  opened  to  allay  the  thirst  of 
Sampson,  after  he  had  slain  a  thousand  Philistines  with  thr 
jaw-bone  of  an  ass.  Judges  xv.  19. 

En-hazor,  a  city  of  Naphtali.  Josh,  xix,  37. 

En-mishpat,  See  Kadesh. 

Enoch,  the  first  city  of  which  we  read  in  Scripture,  buil^ 
by  Cain  probably  not  far  from  Eden ;  but  its  situation  is  nc^ 
Imown. 

Enon,  the  place  where  John  baptized,  "  because  there  was 
much  water  there."  (John  iii.  23.)  It  was  between  Salim  and 
Jordan,  in  the-  tribe  of  Manasseh,  53  miles-north-east  from 
Jerusalem. 

En-rogel,  another  name  for  the  fountain  of  Siloam,  on  the 
east  of  Jerusalem,  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Zion.  It  was  on  the 
border  of  Judah  and  Benjamin,  and  in  the  king's  garden.  2 
Sarn.  xvii.  17. 

Ephesls,  a  celebrated  city  of  Ionia,  in  Asia  Minor,  situ- 
ated upon  the  river  Gayster,  about  five  miles  from  its  mouth, 
and  45  soutli  of  Smyrna.  It  was  famous  for  a  magnificent 
temple  of  Diana :  the  most  noted  and  frequented  of  ail  tlie 
temples  of  that  goddess,  and  reputed  one  of  the  seven  won- 
ders of  the  w^orld.  It  was  said  to  have  been  425  feet  long, 
200  wide,  and  supported  by  127  colunms  60  feet  high.  This 
temple  was  set  on  fire  on  the  night  in  which  Alexander  was 
born,  by  a  man  named  Erostratus,  in  order  to  render  his  name 
immortal ;  but  it  was  rebuilt  with  all  its  former  magnificence. 

St.  Paul's  preaching  here  created  considerable  alarm  to  the 
Ephesians,  who  were  chiefly  supported  by  the  worship  of  this 
temple ;  knowing  that  with  the  fall  of  Paganism  their  city 
would  sufier.  This  has  come  to  pass :  Ephesus  and  its  tem- 
ple have  sunk  together.  The  city  is  now  a  miserable  Turldsh 
villao'e,  and  the  ruins  of  the  temple  are  scarcely  found :  the 
city  is  prostrate,  and  the  goddess  is  gone. 

Ephesus,  in  the  apostolic  age,  was  the  capital  of  the  pro- 
consular Asia ;  which  included  all  the  western  parts  of  Asia 
Mmor.  The  city  is  now  called  by  the  Turks,  Aiasoluc  :  the 
church  of  St.  John  still  remains,  and  is  converted  into  a 
Turkish  mosque.  Christianity  was  first  planted  in  this  city 
by  St.  Paul,  who  visited  it  on  his  first  departure  from  Corinth, 
about  A.  D.  54.  Here  he  taught  during  three  years  of  his 
important  life;  and  raised  a  church,  which   maintained  its 


156 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


EPS 


faith  in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  most  idolatrous  cities  of  an 
idolatrous  age.  It  stands  at  the  head  of  the  seven  churches 
of  Asia ;  the  pastors  of  which  are  called  avgels  in  the  book 
of  Revelations :  and  to  it  there  is  a  remarkable  address.  (Rev. 
ii.  2-6.)  But  notvvithstandinor  this  divine  approval,  and  the 
triumphant  state  of  the  church  of  Ephesus,  it  neglected  the 
warning  given,  gradually  fell  from  its  high  estate,  and  the 
judgment  threatened  fell  upon  it:  its  candlestick  was  re- 
moved out  of  its  place,  and  to  the  pure  worship  of  God,  suc- 
ceeded the  blasphemies  of  the  false  prophet.  This  place, 
where  once  Christianity  flourished,  a  mother  church,  and  the 
see  of  a  metropolitan  bishop,  cannot  now  show  one  family  of 
Christians. 


No.  1.  A  representation  of  the  marine  Venus,  the  goddess  of  lavoura- 
ble  voyages,  to  which  Ephesus,  as  a  commercial  city,  might  well  pay 
attention.  The  action  of  this  figure  resembles  that  of  the  Isis  of 
Egypt,  whom  we  sometimes  see  spreading  her  veil  for  the  sail  of  a  ship. 
The  inscription,  ephesion  g.  neokoron,  implies  that  Ephesus  was  for 
the  third  lime  Neokoron,  or  conservator  of  the  sacred  implements,  cere 
monies,  festivals,  &c. 


EPH 


DlCrriONARY   OF   THE  BIBLE. 


No.  2.  A  medal  of  Ephesns,  re- 
presenting on  one  side  the  head 
of  Minerva;  on  the  other,  the 
figure  of  the  river  Cayster,  on 
Which  Ephesus  was  situated. 


No.  3.  This  medal  represents  the  image  of  Diana,  standing  in  her 
famous  temple  :  and  may  give  a  good  idea  of  the  craft  of  Demetrius, 
Acts  xix.  34.)  who  was  a  maker  of  silver  models  of  the  temple,  wuh 
images  of  the  goddess  ;  and  probably  of  other  emblems  attendant  on  her 
worship.     Inscription,  Ephesion. 

Ephes-dammim,  a  place  between  Shocoh  and  Azekah,  on 
the  west  of  the  valley  of  Elah  ;  where  the  army  of  the  Phi- 
listines was  encamped,  when  Goliah  insulted  the  host  of 
?^srael.  1  Sam.  xvii.  1. 

Ephraim,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  I. 
p.  65. 

O 


158  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  EtJP 

EpJiraim,  a  city  on  the  border,  between  this  tribe  and  Ben- 
jamin ;  eight  miles  north  from  Jerusalem,  and  not  far  from 
Bethel.  This  is  thought  by  some  to  have  been  the  place  to 
which  Jesus  retired  with  his  disciples.  John  xi.  54. 

The  Wood  of  Ephraim,  in  wliich  Absalom's  army  was 
routed,  and  himself  killed  and  buried,  (2  Sam.  xviii.  6,  &:c.) 
was  on  the  east  of  Jordan,  which  Absalom  and  David  had  both 
passed  over,  (chap.  xvii.  24.) ;  and  consequently  could  not  be 
any  wood  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim ;  but  some  forest  east  of 
Jordan,  so  named  on  some  other  account ;  possibly  as  lying 
opposite  the  tribe  of  Ephraim. 

Ephratah,  another  name  for  Bethlehem. 

Ephron,  a  city  beyond  Jordan,  taken  and  destroyed  by  Ju 
das  Maccabeus.    1  Mace.  v.  46. 

Epiphania,  a  city  of  Syria,  probably  the  same  as  Hamath. 
It  stood  on  the  Orontes,  between  Antioch  and  Apamea. 

Epirus.  a  province  of  Greece,  having  Macedonia  on  the 
north,  Thessaly  east,  and  the  Ionian  Sea  south-west. 

Erech,  a  city  built  by  Nimrod.   See  Part  I.  p.  14. 

EsDRAELON,  a  morc  modern  name  for  the  valley  or  plain  of 
Jezreel  in  the  tribe  of  Issachar. 

EsHCOL,  a  fertile  valley  in  the  south  of  Canaan ;  from  which 
the  Hebrew  spies  carried  a  bunch  of  grapes,  as  a  specimen  of 
the  fruit  of  the  land.  Numb.  xiii.  23. 

EsHTAOL,  a  town  of  Judah,  given  afterwards  to  the  tribe  of 
Dan. 

EsHTEMOA,  or  Eshtejnoth,  a  city  in  tlie  south  of«the  tribe 
of  Judah,  given  to  the  Levites.  Josh.  xv.  50.  xxi.  14.  1  Sam. 
xxx.  28. 

Etam,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  between  Bethlehem  and 
Tekoah.  (2  Chron,  xi.  6.)  To  the  rock  of  Etam,  Samson  re- 
tired after  having  burned  the  harvest  of  the  Philistines.  (Judg. 
XV.  8.)  From  a  noted  spring  near  this  place,  water  was  brought 
by  an  aqueduct  to  Jerusalem. 

Etham,  one  of  the  encampments  of  the  Israelites  in  the 
wilderness,  ^ee  Part  I.  p.  42. 

Ether,  a  city  of  Judah,  afterwards  given  to  Simeon.  Josh. 
xix.  7. 

Ethiopia,  See  Ciish. 

Euphrates  ;  the  Hebrew  name  of  tliis  river  is  Phrath,  or 
Perath ;  the  Eu  prefixed  is  a  Greek  particle  implying  excel- 
lence. It  is  written  Euphrates  in  the  New  Testament ;  but 
in  the  Old,  it  is  Perath. 


EZI  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  159 

The  Euphrates  is  a  famous  river  of  Asia,  the  source  of 
which  is  in  the  mountains  of  Armenia.  It  runs  through  the 
frontier  of  Cappadocia,  Syria,  and  Arabia  Deserta  on  the  west ; 
and  Mesopotamia  on  the  east ;  and  passing-  through  Chaldea, 
or  Babylonia,  empties  into  the  Persian  Gulf.  At  the  p]:esent 
time  it  discharges  its  waters  into  that  gulf  through  a  channel, 
which  is  common  to  it  and  the  Tigris,  wnth  which  it  unites 
about  60  miles  from  the  gulf;  but  formerly  it  had  a  particular 
channel  of  its  own,  of  which  Pliny  says  that  in  his  time  the 
traces  were  yet  to  be  seen. 

This  is  a  river  of  consequence  in  Scripture  geography, 
being  the  boundary  which  separated  Padan  Aram  from 
Syria,  and  the  utmost  limit,  on  the  eastward,  of  the  kingdom 
of  the  Israelites.  (Deut.  i.  7.  Josh.  i.  4.)  It  was,  indeed,  only 
occasionally  that  the  dominion  of  this  people  extended  thus 
far ;  but  it  appears  that  even  Egypt,  under  Pharaoh  Necho, 
made  conquests  to  the  banks  of  this  river.  The  general  course 
of  the  Euphrates  is  south-east;  though  in  the  upper  part,  in 
Armenia,  it  runs  westerly/,  and  approaches  the  Mediterranean 
Sea,  near  Cilicia.  The  general  course  of  the  Tigris  is  nearly 
the  same ;  and  the  country  included  betvreen  them  was  called 
in  Hebrev/,  Aram  Naharaim,  i.  e.  Syria  cf  the  rivers ;  and  in 
Greek,  Mesopotamia ;  between  the  rivers.  The  Euphrates 
receives  several  streams  in  its  course,  as  the  Murad,  the  Rou- 
lia,  the  Khabour  or  Chaboras,  and  others.  At  length  it  joins 
the  Tigris,  and  the  united  waters  of  these  rivers  form  a  kind 
of  sea,  in  which  there  .are  many  islands.  All  their  branches 
being  combined  at  Korna,..they  pass  together  to  Basra,  from 
whence  they  fall  into  the  Persian  Guff.  There  are  many 
towns  on  its  banks,  and  much  fruitful  land  in  different  places. 
In  general,  its  banks  are  rather  level  than  mountainous.  .It  is 
generally  about  500  feet  broad ;  but  when  the  snows  melt 
upon  the  mountains  of  Armenia,  it  overflows  its  banks  like 
the  Nile,  and  becomes  broad  and  deep.  This  w^as  one  of  the 
rivers,  the  source  of  which  was  in  Eden.     See  Part  I.  p.  10. 

EzroN-GABER,  a  city  and  port  of  Idumea,  or  Arabia  Deserta, 
on  the  eastern  arm  of  the  Red  Sea.  (Numb,  xxxiii.  35.  1  Kings 
Lx.  23.)  Near  the  mouth  of  this  harbour  was  a  reef  of  rocks 
upon  which  the  fleet  of  ships  v^as  lost,  which  had  been  fitted 
out  for  Ophir,  by  Jehoshaphat  and  Ahazia,  kings  of  Judah  ard 
Israel.  (1  Kings  xxii.  43.  2  Chron.  xx.  36.)  From  these  rocks 
the  place  took  its  name,  Ezion-gaber,  i.  e.  the  back-hone  of 
a  great  man ;  which  this  ledge  of  rocks  resembles  in  shape. 


160 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


GAD 


Fair-haven,  a  port  in  the  island  of  Crete,  passed  by  St. 
Paul.  (Acts  xxvii.  8.)  A  town  is  mentioned  by  Jcrom  and 
others,  as  situated  here. 


G. 

Gaash,  a  hill  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  (See  Part  I.  p.  62. 
The  brook  of  Gaash,  (2  Sam.  xxiii.  30.)  was  probably  near, 
or  at  the  foot  of  this  hill. 

Gaba,  a  city  of  Benjamin,  assigned  to  the  Levites.  Josh, 
xviii.  24. 

Gad,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  I.  p.  67 

Gad,  a  river,  thought  to  be  the  same  as  the  Arnon. 

Gadara,  according  to  Josephus,  was  the  capital  of  Perea, 
and  situated  about  7  miles  east  from  the  sea  of  Galilee  or  Ti- 
berias. It  gave  name  to  a  district  of  country,  as  we  read  that 
our  Saviour  having  passed  the  see  of  Tiberias,  came  into  the 
country  of  the  Gadarenes.  (Mark  v.  i.  Luke  viii.  26.)  St.  Mat- 
thew^ (viii.  28.)  calls  it  the  country  of  the  Gergesenes ;  but  as 
the  city  of  Gergesa  was  near  Gadara,  it  is  probable  that  their 
territories  were  adjoining,  or  included,  one  within  the  other ; 
therefore  some  of  the  evangelists  might  call  it  by  one  name, 
and  some  by  the  other. 

There  was  another  place  called  Gadara,  situated  in  the  west 
of  the  land  of  Canaan,  on  the  Mediterranean,  probably  not  far 
from  Ashdod  or  Azotus,  and  called  Gedor,  Gezer  or  Gederah, 
in  the  Old  Testament,  and  Gazara  in  Mace.  xiv.  34.  To  this 
Gadara  the  following  medal  probably  belongs. 


GAL  DICrriONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  161 

This  medal  represents  on  one  side  the  head  of  Marcus  Aurelius  An- 
toninus, inscribed  with  his  name ;  on  the  revose  a  galley  with  many 
oars,  and  on  the  prow  a  standard  with  flags  flying;  the  captain  sits  at 
the  helm,  directing  the  course  of  the  vessel.  Inscription,  Gadareon, 
of  Gadara;  with  the  word  nauma,  for  naumachia,  w-hich  signifies  a 
naval  combat,  or  at  least  a  spectacle  representing  a  sea-fight.  It  is  dif 
ficult  to  con:3eive  how  the  Gadara  of  Perea,  east  of  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
which  was  situated  on  a  mountain,  and  which  had  no  navigable  water 
near  it,  should  bo  able  to  exhibit  such  a  spectacle.  It  therefore  proba- 
bly belongs  to  Gadara  on  the  Mediterranean. 

Galatia,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor,  bounded  north  by 
Bithynia  and  Paphlagonia ;  east  by  Pontus  and  Cappadocia ; 
south  by  Lycaonia ;  and  west  by  Phrygia.  It  is  believed  to 
have  taken  its  name  from  tlie  Gauls,  who,  under  their  captain 
Leonorius,  as  Stra^bo  informs  us,  left  their  own  country  in  Eu- 
rope, and  having  ravaged  Italy  and  Greece,  burned  the  city 
of  Rome,  passed  into  Asia,  and  advanced  as  far  as  Babylon, 
carrying  conquest  and  ruin  wherever  they  went ;  but  being 
defeated  by  Attalus,  king  of  Pergamus,  and  driven  out  of 
other  parts,  they  w^ere  at  last  confined  to  this  province,  where 
they  w^ere  finally  established.  Being-  now  peopled  by  a  mix- 
ture of  Gauls  and  Greeks,  it  w^as  called  Gaido-grecia,  and  at 
length  Galatia.  These  Gauls  are  said  not  only  to  have  re- 
tained their  own  language,  but  to  have  made  it  the  language 
of  the  country. 

St.  Paul  visited  Galatia  about  A.  D.  50,  and  founded  a  numbei 
of  churches.  In  52  he  wrote  them  an  epistle,  and  again  visited 
them  about  a  year  after.  From  his  letter  to  them,  it  seems 
tha.t  Christianity  did  not  alter  their  national  character,  which 
was  both  fickle  and  ferocious.  They  received  him,  not  merely 
with  the  respect  and  affection  due  to  an  apostle,  but  as  if  he 
had  been  an  angel,  or  Christ  himself  Yet  they  soon  changed, 
and  relinquished  his  principles,  behaving,  according  to  his  com- 
plaint, as  if  they  had  "  been  bewitched,"  or  possessed  v/ith 
evil  spirits. 

Galatia  was  a  part  of  the  kingdom  of  Pontus,  in  the  time 
of  Mithridates  Eupator. 

Galilee,  a  province  in  the  north  of  Canaan,  or  the  Holy 
Land,  consisting  chiefly  of  what  w^as  once  the  territories  of 
Issachar,  Zebulon,  Naphtali,  and  Asher ;  and  according  to 
some  writers,  including  part  of  Dan,  and  of  Perea,  east  of 
Jordan.  It  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Lebanon  and  Syria ; 
on  the  east  mostly  by  the  Jordan  and  the  sea  of  Galilee ;  on 
the  south  by  Samaria ;  and  on  the  west  by  Phenicia.  It  has 
02 


162  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  GAL 

generally  been  considered  as  divided  into  two  parts,  Upper 
and  Lower  Galilee :  the  former  called  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles, 
(Matt.  iv.  15.)  probably  because  it  was  chiefly  possessed  by  the 
Gentiles,  having  some  Jews  scattered  among  them  ;  or  be- 
cause it  bordered  upon  the  Gentile  nations  of  Phenicians, 
Syrians,  and  Arabians. 

Galilee  is  an  ancient  name,  being  found  so  early  as  Josh. 
XX.  7.  xxi.  32.  1  Kings  ix.  11.  and  several  other  passages  of 
the  Old  Testament ;  it  is  thought  to  be  the  same  as  Gilgal, 
the  kings  of  whose  nations  are  mentioned  in  Josh.  xii.  23. 
and  probably  is  called  Gilgal.  (Deut.  xi.  30.)  This  was  the  coun- 
try most  honoured  by  the  presence  of  our  Saviour.  It  was  here 
that  he  was  conceived,  (Luke  i.  26.)  here  that  he  was  brought 
by  his  reputed  parents,  v/hen  a  child,  out  of  Egypt ;  here  he 
settled  and  lived  with  them,  till  he  began  to  be  about  thirty 
years  of  age,  and  was  baptized  by  John,  (Matt.  ii.  22.  Luke  ii. 
39.  51.  Matt.  iii.  13.  Luke  iii.  23.)  hither  he  returned  after 
his  baptism  and  temptation.  (Luke  iv.  14.)  And  after  his  en- 
try on  his  public  ministry,  though  he  frequently  visited  other 
provinces,  yet  here  was  his  dwelling-place.  (Matt.  iv.  13.) 
And  lastly,  hither  the  Apostles  came  to  converse  with  him 
after  his  resurrection,  by  his  appointment.  (Matt,  xxviii.  7. 16.) 
The  most  of  his  apostles  also,  if  not  all,  were  natives  of  this 
country,  whence  they  were  all  styled  by  the  angels,  "  men  of 
Galilee."  (Acts  i.  11.)  ..Our  Lord  was  also  called  a  Galilean, 
(Matt.  xxvi.  69.)  and  it  deserves  notice  that  he  was  addressed 
under  this  title  by  his  adversary,  the  dying  Julian,  who  being 
cut  off  from  prosecuting  his  purposes  against  Cliristianity,  ex- 
claimed in  the  hour  of  death,  Vicisti  Galilcee  I  thou  hast  con- 
quered, O  Galilean! 

Galilee  was  fruitful  and  well  cultivated,  and  the  people 
industrious.  The  number  of  its  cities,  towns,  and  villages  was 
very  great,  and  they,  as  well  as  the  whole  country,  were  ex- 
ceedingly populous.  It  was  one  of  the  more  extensive  pro- 
vinces, into  which  the  Holy  Land  was  divided,  after  the  return 
of  Israel  from  captivity  ;  somewhat  greater  in  extent  than 
Judea ;  but  probably  varied  its  bounds  at  different  periods. 
Its  language  differed  considerably  from  that  of  Jud.ea  ;  and  aa 
the  Galileans  were  a  mixture  of  sundry  nations,  probably  with 
many  Jews  returned  from  captivity,  many  provincial  idioms 
might  exist :  hence  we  find  Peter  detected  by  his  language. 
Mark  xiv.  70. 

Galilee,  Sea  of,  otherwise  called  the  Sea  qf  Tiberias, 


GAZ  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  10<| 

from  a  town  of  that  name,  standing  on  its  western  shore ;  and 
tlie  Lake  of  Gennesareth,  which  is  probably  a  corruption  of 
Chinnereth,  the  ancient  name  of  this  sea,  or  lake.  (Numb, 
xxxiv.  11.  Josh.  xii.  3.)  Its  breadth,  according  to  Josephus, 
from  east  to  west,  is  about  six  miles,  and  the  length,  from 
north  to  south,  about  eighteen ;  the  water  is  pure  and  whole- 
some, abounding  with  a  great  variety  of  fish,  not  found  any- 
where else.  Its  bed,  and  banks,  are  a  smooth  gravel,  con- 
sequently very  convenient  for  the  drawing  of  nets.  This  sea 
is  viewed  with  veneration  by  Christians,  from  having  been 
much  frequented  by  Christ  and  his  apostles. 

Gallim,  a  city  of  Benjamin.  (1  Sam.  xxv.  44.  Isa.  x.  30.) 
Some  authors  mention  a  town  of  this  name,  east  of  Jordan,  in 
the  land  of  Moab,  south  from  the  city  of  Ar. 

Gath,  a  city  of  the  Philistines,  and  one  of  their  five  lord- 
ships. (1  Sam,  vi.  17.)  It  lay  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  west  of 
Jerusalem,  and  is  famous  as  the  native  place  of  Goliah.  It 
was  taken  by  David,  was  afterwards  rebuilt  by  Rehoboam, 
his  grandson,  and  was  finally  laid  waste  by  Hazael,  king  of 
Syria.  Eusebius  and  Jerom  say  that  it  still  existed  in  their 
day.  It  appears  to  have  been  an  ancient  city,  being  men- 
tioned so  early  as  Josh.  xi.  22. 

Gath-hepher,  a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  (Josh.  xix. 
13.)  the  birth-place  of  the  prophet  Jonah,  (2  Kmgs  xiv.  25.) 
whose  tomb,  according  to  Jerom,  was  still  to  be  seen  there  in 
the  fourth  century. 

Gath-rimmon,  a  city  of  Dan,  (Josh.  xix.  45.)  also  in 
Manasseh,  west  of  Jordan,  given  to  the  Levites,  (Josh.  xxi. 
25.)  and  another  in  Ephraim. 

Gaulon,  See  Golan. 

Gaza,  one  of  the  five  principal  cities  and  lordships  of  the 
Philistines,  situated  in  the  south-west  of  the  promised  land; 
and  is  a  city  of  great  antiquity,  being  noticed  among  those 
which  formed  the  boundary  of  the  territory  of  Canaan.  Its 
advantageous  situation  was  the  cause  of  the  many  revolu- 
tions to  which  it  has  been  subject.  It  first  belonged  to  the 
Philistines,  then  to  the  Hebrews ;  recovered  its  liberty  in  the 
reigns  of  Jothara  and  Ahaz,  and  w^as  reconquered  by  Heze- 
kiah.  (2  Kings  xviii.  8.)  It  was  smitten  by  Pharaoh,  (Jer. 
xlvii.  1.)  and  was  subject  to  the  Assyrians  and  Babylonians, 
who  conquered  Syria  and  Phenicia.  Afterwards  it  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Persians,  who  were  masters  of  it  when 
Alexander  besieged,  took,  and  destroyed  it.    A  new  city  rose 


164  SCRIFTtRE   GEOGRAPHY.  GAZ 

from  its  ruins,  nearer  the  sea ;  after  which  ancient  writers 
speak  of  Old  Gaza,  and  Strabo  mentions  Gaza  the  desert, 
which  agrees  with  Acts  viii.  26.  In  the  destruction  of  this 
city  were  verified  tlie  predictions  of  the  prophets.  (Amos  i.  7. 
Zeph.  ii.  4.)  The  new  city  was  called  ^iajuma,  and  was 
several  times  taken  and  retaken  in  the  wars  between  A^tio- 
chus  and  the  Maccabees.  It  afterwards  fell  under  the  do- 
minion of  the  Romans,  and  was  given  by  Augustus  to  Herod 
the  Great.  It  is  said  in  Acts  viii.  26.  to  be  a  desert;  but  this 
probably  means  Old  Gaza,  and  not  Majuma,  which  was  very 
populous.  The  emperor  Constantino  gave  Majuma  the  name 
of  Constantia,  and  granted  it  the  honours  and  privileges  of  a 
city,  independent  of  Gaza;  but  of  both  its  name  and  its  privi- 
jcg-es  it  was  deprived  by  the  emperor  Julian. 

Some  marks  of  the  ancient  grandeur  of  this  place  still 
remain  in  the  marble  columns  which  now  support  dirty 
cottages ;  and  it  yet  has  a  better  appearance  than  most  of  the 
towns  in  this  country.  The  country  around  is  very  fruitful, 
and  well  cultivated;  and  the  gardens  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
city  are  represented  as  offering-  a  delightful  prospect.  The 
inhabitants,  in  complexion,  stature,  manners,  and  language, 
resemble  the  Egyptians  more  than  the  Syrians.  Diseases  of 
the  eyes  are  conmion  here,  and  many  of  the  people  lare  led 
through  the  streets  entirely  blind.  In  the  town  is  a  consider- 
able number  of  Christians,  who  inhabit  a  separate  part  of  the 
city,  as  do  those  of  other  different  religions.  The  Greeks  and 
Armenians  both  have  Christian  churches  here.  The  town 
has  about  two  thousand  inhabitants,  and  stands  about  three 
miles  from  the  sea,  having  an  indifferent  port.  There  are 
some  manufactories  of  cotton,  and  a  considerable  commerce 
is  carried  on,  chiefly  by  means  of  caravans  passing  between 
Egypt  and  Syria,  and  by  the  Arabs  who  resort  here  to  sell 
their  plunder. 

The  French  army  of  Egypt  took  Gaza  in  1797,  but  soon 
deserted  it,  having  lost  here  500  men  by  the  plague. 

It  is  noted  in  Scripture  history  for  the  exploits  of  Samson ; 
and  a  little  distance  from  the  city  is  still  shown  a  pile  of  rub- 
bish, which  they  say  is  the  ruins  of  the  temple  which  lie 
pulled  down  on  the  Philistines.  Here  also  Philip  baptized  the 
eunuch  of  Ethiopia.  Acts  viii.  26. 

Gaza  is  situated  fifty  miles  south-west  of  Jerusalem,  and  is 
called  by  the  Arabs,  Rassa. 


GAZ 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE. 


165 


A  medal  of  Gaza,  representing  the  head  of  the  turreted  goddess. 
Ashtaroih,  Astarte,  or  Venus;  and  on  the  reverse  the  peculiar  and  ap- 
propriate symbol  of  this  city.  It  appears  to  be  a  key  of  a  particular 
shape,  and 'it  is  possible  that,  besides  the  character  ot'  Gaza,  as  being 
the  key  of  Syria  towards  Egypt,  as  it  really  is,  the  inhabitants  might 
boast  of  the  excellence  of  thai  kind  of  key  which  they  were  accustom- 
ed to  use.  This  may  also  illuslrate  a  circimistance  mentioned  in  Judges 
xvi.  2.  The  people  of  Gaza  laid  wait  for  Samson  all  night,  in  the  gate 
of  their  city,  and  were  quiet,  depending  on  the  impossibility  of  his 
opening  the"  locks  of  their  city  door;  but  at  midnight  he  took  away  the 
doors,  the  two  posts,  bar,  and  all  which  had  been  their  reliance  for 
securing  him.  This  bar  is  probably  what  we  see  in  the  figure,  crossing 
the  key  in  the  middle.  As  Gaza  prided  itself  upon  being  the  key  of 
Syria,  no  doubt  it  would  denote  this  character  by  using  on  its  medals 
J),  key  of  that  kind,  which  it  considered  the  most  secure  and  substantial 
The  arms  of  Gibraltar  are  a  key,  that  town  having  been  formerly 
esteemed  the  key  of  Spain,  as  it  now  is  of  the  Mediterranean. 


Another  medal  of  Gaza,  wilh  the  head  of  the  emperor  Commodus, 
inscribed  with  his  name.  The  reverse  exhibits  a  figure  under  the 
character  of  Jupiter ;  holding  in  one  hand  the  thunder,  in  the  other  a 
globe  :  opposite  to  him  is  an  heroic  figure  whose  attributes  are  not  dis- 
tinguishable :  between  the  two  figures  is  the  symbol  of  the  city  of  Gaza. 
The  whole  passes  in  a  temple  having  two  pillars.  The  date  ©AC,  239, 
is  from  the  year  of  Rome  693,  under  the  reign  of  Marcus  Aurelius,  two 
years  before  his  death.     Commodus  was  then  17  years  of  age;  his 


166 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


GEB 


father  had  associated  him  in  the  empire  three  years  before.  Perhaps 
this  medal  represents  the  old  emperor  delivering  the  insignia  of  go 
vernmenl  to  his  son. 

Geba,  (1  Sam.  xiii.  3.)  the  same  as  Gaha.  (Josh,  xviii.  24.) 
Some  writers  have  been  of  upinion  tliat  this  Geba  or  Gaba, 
was  also  the  same  as  Gibeah  ;  but  this  is  rendered  unlikely, 
not  only  by  Gibeath,  probably  the  same  as  Gibeah,  being 
named  distmct  from  Gaba,  (Josh,  xviii.)  but  also  by  other  cir- 
cumstances. By  comparing  2  Sam.  v.  25.  with  1  Chron,  xiv, 
16.  we  find  the  same  place  called  both  Geba  and  Gibeon. 
Considerable  uncertainty  attends  this  subject ;  Geba  or  Gebau 
appears  to  be  the  root  of  the  many  names  which  are  written 
in  our  translation  Gibeah,  Gibeath,  and  possibly  Gibeon; 
which  makes  distinction  between  these  cities  difficult. 

A  medal  with  the  head  of 
the  empress  Plaiitina,  inscrib- 
ed \Aith  her  name  :  on  the  re- 
verse the  inscription  gaue- 
NON,  of  Gaba ;  either  Gabe  in 
Syria,  or  Geba  in  Judea.  In 
either  case  it  shows  that  the 
Gentile  deities  prevailed  in 
these  countries  Ioug;  after  the 
time  of  Christ.  The  date  is 
171,.tlie  thirteenth  of  Trajan. 

Gebal,  a  country  mentioned  with  Amtnon,  Amalek,  &c. 
(Psalm  Ixxxi.  7.)  and  supposed  to  be  situated  in  the  south  of 
Edom  or  Iduinea.  ' 

There  was  also  a  place  of  this  name  in  Phenicia  on  the 
Mediterranean,  perhaps  the  same  which  is  sometimes  called 
Byblos.  Pliny  calls  it  Gabale,  and  its  modern  name  is  Gibyle, 
or  Jebilee.  This  was  the  place  of  the  Gibelites  mentioned  in 
Josh.  xiii.  5.  The  people  of  Gebal  were  employed  in  caulking 
the  ships  of  Tyre,  (Ezek.  xxvii.  9.)  it  is  also  supposed  to  be  the 
place  from  which  Solomon  had  his  stone-cutters.  (1  Kings  v. 
18.)  This  place  was  once  famous  for  a  temple  of  Adonis  or 
Thammuz ;  it  now  has  a  ditcli  round  it,  with  some  square  tow- 
ers; but  is  miserably  poor,  and  remarkable  only  for  its  ruins. 


A  medal  inscribed  gabai.eon,  of 
Gahala,  or  Gebal ;  and  the  only  one 
cnoun  which  bears  the  name  of  this 
town.  Its  type  is  a  crab,  holding  in 
its  claws  the  emblems  of  the  sun  and 
moon. 


GER  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  167 

Geder,  Gederoth,  and  Gedor  :  see  Gadara. 

Gehinnom,  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  lying  on  the  south  and 
east  of  Jerusalem,  (Josh.  xv.  8.)  and  through  which  the  brook 
Kidron  runs.  This  valley  is  remarkable  as  the  scene  of  that 
inliunian  and  idolatrous  worship  paid  to  Molcch,  in  which 
parents  made  their  children  pass  through  the  fire,  or  burned 
them,  as  sacrifices  to  that  idol.  This  valley  having  been  the 
scene  of  much  cruelty,  in  order  to  render  such  idolatry  odious, 
the  place  was  devoted  to  filthiness  and  pollution.  It  has  been 
said,  that  fires  were  continually  burning  in  it  to  consume  the 
filth  carried  there  from  the  city.  This  perpetual  burning 
added  another  similarity  to  those  evils  attributed  to  the  place 
of  torment,  and  thus  the  ideas  of  wickedness,  pollution,  and 
punishment  were  attached  to  this  place ;  so  that  the  w^ord 
Gekinnom  was  used  in  the  Syriac  language  to  denote  hell: 
this  was  moulded  by  the  Greeks  mto  Gehenna,  and  is  used  in 
Scripture  as  the  term  signifying  hell,  or  hell  fire. 

Geliloth,  a  place  in  the  borders  of  Judali  and  Benjamin, 
(Josh,  xviii.  17.)  thought  to  be  the  place  otherwise  called 
Gilgal ;  or  at  least  m  nearly  the  same  situation, 

Ge>^-esareth,  LaJce  of;  see  Sea  of  Galilee, 

Gex.\esareth,  country  of;  a  region  along  the  lake  of  this 
name,  decribed  by  Josephus,  as  wonderfully  pleasant  and  fer- 
tile. The  temperature  of  the  air  agrees  with  fruits  of  dif- 
ferent natures;  so  that  here  grow  nuts,  a  mere  winter-fruit; 
palms  which  require  much  heat ;  and  near  them  figs  and 
olives,  which  require  a  moderate  air.  Josephus  attributes  the 
extraordinary  fruitfulness  and  beauty  of  this  region,  to  the 
peculiar  providence  of  God,  as  if  he  took  delight  in  this  spot 
of  ground  ;  and  it  was  a  common  saying  among  the  Jews,  that 
God  loved  tlie  sea  of  Gennesareth  more  than  any  other  sea. 
This  remarkable  tract  of  country  was  but  four  miles  long,  and 
two  and  a  half  broad. 

Gerar,  a  city  in  the  land  of  the  Philistines,  where  Abraham 
sojourned,  and  of  which  Abimelech  was  king.  It  w^as  situated 
near  the  south-western  corner  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  not  far 
from  Gaza,  Gen.  xx.  1,  xxi.  32.  xxvi,  1.  17, 

Gergesa,  or  Gerasa,  a  city  east  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  not 
far  from  Gadara,  St.  Matthew  says  it  was  in  the  country  of 
the  Gergasenes,  that  the  swme  ran  down  into  the  sea ;  while 
St.  Mark  calls  it  the  country  of  the  Gadarenes.  See  Gadara, 
Origen  says  that  in  his  time  they  shov/ed  the  precipice  on  the 


168  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  GEZ 

sea  of  Tiberias  or  Galilee,  from  which  the  swine  rushed  into 
the  water. 

Gerizim,  a  mountain  near  Shechem,  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim, 
opposite  to  Mount  Ebal ;  Shechem  lying  in  the  valley  between 
them.  After  passing  the  Jordan,  the  Israelites  were  com- 
manded to  go  to  these  mountains ;  six  of  the  tribe?  were  to 
take  their  station  on  each ;  those  on  Mount  Gerizim  were  to 
pronounce  blessings  upon  those  who  should  observe  the  law 
of  the  Lord  ;  and  those  upon  Ebal,  curses  against  those  who 
should  violate  it.  (Deut.  xi.  29.  xxvii.  12.)  Gerizim  is  de- 
scribed by  travellers  as  a  fruitful  mountain ;  while  Ebal  is 
barren  and  scorched ;  as  if  the  blessing  and  the  curse  still 
rested  upon  them. 

The  Samaritans  maintain  that  Abraham  and  Jacob  erected 
altars  at  Gerizim  ;  and  that  there  Abraham  prepared  to  sacri* 
fice  his  son  Isaac. 

Geshur,  a  country  in  Syria,  having  its  own  king,  whose 
daughter  David  married,  who  was  the  mother  of  Absalom* 
(2  Sam.  XV.  8.)  Absalom,  after  the  murder  of  his  brother, 
fled  to  the  king  of  Geshur,  his  grandfather.  2  Sam.  xiii.  37. 

Gethsemane,  a  village  near  Mount  Olivet,  whither  Jesus 
sometimes  retreated  at  night.  The  garden  in  which  he  wels 
taken  by  Judas  and  those  who  were  with  him,  is  still  shown : 
it  is  a  level  spot  of  ground  about  15  yards  square,  lying  be- 
tween the  foot  of  Mount  Olivet  and  the  brook  Kedron.  It  ia 
now  well  covered  with  olive-trees;  some  of  them  so  remark- 
ably large  as  to  be  thought  the  same  which  w^ere  there  in 
the  time  of  our  Saviour.  At  the  upper  corner  of  the  gar- 
den is  a  flat  ledge  of  rock,  said  to  be  the  spot  where  Peter, 
James,  and  John  fell  asleep  during  the  agony  of  our  Lord, 
which  was  suffered  in  a  grotto  a  few  paces  distant.  In  this 
garden  a  narrow  strip  is  walled  out  separate,  as  an  accursed 
piece  of  ground :  this  is  said  to  be  the  path  in  which  the 
traitor  Judas  walked  up  to  Christ,  saying,  "  Hail,  Master," 
and  kissing  him.  This  work  is  the  more  remarkable,  as  it 
was  probably  done  by  the  Mahometans,  who,  as  well  as  the 
Christians,  detest  the  very  ground  on  which  was  manifested 
such  infamous  treachery. 

Gezer,  See  Gadara. 

Gezrites,  or  Gerziles,  a  people  invaded  by  David  while  he 
tarried  at  Ziklag,  (1  Sam.  xxvii.  8.)  at  the  same  time  with  the 
Geshurites.  These  Gerzites  are  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  the 
Grerrenians,  or  mhabitants  of  Gerar,  mentioned  2  Mace.  xiii.  24. 


GOB  DlC?riONARY  OF  tttE   BIBLE.  169 

GiAH,  a  valley  near  Gibeon.  2  Sam.  ii.  24. 

GiBBETHON,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  allotted  to  the  Le- 
vites.  (Josh.  xxi.  23.)  It  was  a  strong  place,  and  endured  a 
long  siege  against  Nadab.    1  Kings  xv.  27.  xvi.  15.  17. 

GiBEAii,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin,  three  or  four  miles 
north  of  Jerusalem.  It  is  sometimes  called  Gibeah  of  Saul, 
being  the  place  of  his  nativity.  It  was  also  noted  for  its  sinsj 
as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  Judges  xix. 

Gibeah  was  also  the  name  of  a  town  in  Judah,  (Josh.  xv. 
57.)  and  of  a  hill  ^vdlere  Eleazar  was  buried,  (Josh.  xxiv.  33.) 
rendered  in  oar  translation,  "  a  hill ;"  but  in  the  original  it  is 
"Gibeah  of  Phinehas." 

Gibbon,  a  city  situated  about  four  miles  north  of  Jerusalem^ 
not  far  from  Gibeah.  Eusebius  says  that  it  v-^as  a  village  in 
Jiis  time,  still  retaining  its  ancient  name,  and  four  miles  from 
Bethel.    »S'ee  Part  I.  p.  56. 

GiHON,  one  of  the  fc 
13.  See  Part  I.  p.  11. 

Gihon,  was  also  the  name  of  a  fountain  west  of  Jerusalem, 
where  Solomon  was  anointed  king.  (1  Kings  i.  33.  38.  45.) 
Hezekiah  ordered  the  upper  chamiel  of  this  fountam  to  be 
conveyed  to  Jerusalem ;  (2  Chron.  xxxii.  30.)  probably  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy,  when  the  city  was  besieged,  from  making 
use  of  the  water,  as  well  as  for  the  advantage  of  the  citizens. 

Gilboa,  a  mountain  not  far  from  Bethshean,  in  the  east  of 
the  tribe  of  Issachar ;  celebrated  for  the  death  of  Saul  and  his 
son  Jonathan.  1  Sam.  xxxi.  1,  2. 

GiLEAD,  part  of  the  mountains  extending  from  Mount  Le- 
banon southward ;  and  east  of  the  Land  of  Canaan.  See  Part 
1.  p.  37.  On  these  mountains  grew  trees  producing  a  kind  of 
gum,  called  the  balm  of  Gilead. 

There  appears  also  to  have  been  a  place  of  this  name  in 
Ephraim.  Hosea  vi.  8. 

GiLGAL,  a  place  near  Jericho.    See  Part  I.  p.  55  and  61. 

GiLOH,  a  city  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  51.)  Ahithophel,  one 
of  David's  counsellors,  was  of  this  place.  2  Sam.  xv.  12. 
xxiii.  34. 

GiMzo,  a  city  in  the  south  of  Judah,  taken  by  the  Philis- 
tines in  the  reign  of  Ahaz.    2  Chron.  xxviii.  18. 

GiRGASHiTES,  a  people  of  Canaan.    See  Part  I.  p.  28. 

GiTTiTEs,  the  people  of  Gath.  Josh.  xiii.  3. 

Gob,  a  place  where  two  battles  were  fought  between  the 


170  SCRlPTtJRE   GEOGRAPHY.  GRE 

Israelites  and  the  Philistines,  (2  Sam.  xxi.  18.)  probably  the 
same  as  Gezer,  and  so  called.  1  Chron.  xx.  4. 

Gog  and  Magog.  Magog  was  a  son  of  Japhet,  and  the 
father  of  the  Scythians  and  other  nations  of  the  north.  See 
Part  I.  p.  17.  Gog  was  the  prince  of  the  country  of  Magog. 
(Ezek.  xxxviii.  and  xxxix.)  It  is  believed  that  Gog  and  Ma- 
gog in  Ezekiel  and  the  Revelations,  are  taken  allegorically 
for  such  princes  as  were  enemies  to  the  church. 

Golan,  or  Gaiilan,  a  noted  city  of  Bashan,  east  of  the  Jor- 
dan, afterwards  allotted  to  JManasseh.  It  was  one  of  the 
Levitical  cities,  and  also  a  city  of  refuge.  (Deut.  iv.  43.  Josh, 
xxi.  27.)  This  city  gave  name  to  the  region  afterwards  called 
Gaulon,  or  Gaulonitis,  v/hich  extended  from  Perea  on  the 
south,  to  Lebanon  on  the  north. 

Golgotha,  See  Calvary. 

Gomorrah,  one  of  the  five  cities  destroyed  by  fire  from 
heaven.   See  Part  I.  p.  31. 

Goshen,  a  district  of  Egypt  inhabited  by  the  Israelites; 
also  a  tract  of  country  in  the  south  of  Judah.  See  Part  I.  p. 
39  and  58.     Also  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  51. 

GozAN,  a  river  of  Media,  in  a  province  of  the  same  name, 
to  which  the  captive  Israelites  were  carried  by  Sennacherib, 
king  of  Assyria.  2  Kings  xvii.  6.  1  Chron.  v.  26. 

Greece  :  this  word  is  often  used  in  Scripture  in  a  very  ex- 
tended sense,  compreliending  all  the  countries  inliabited  by 
the  descendants  of  Javan,  the  son  of  Japhet,  not  only  in  Greece 
proper,  but  also  in  Ionia  and  Asia  Minor.  See  Part  I.  pp.  18, 
19.  The  Hebrew  word  Javan,  or  lawan,  is  used  in  the 
Old  Testament  to  signify  Greece  and  the  Greeks.  There  is 
but  little  said  in  Scripture  with  reference  to  this  country, 
until  the  time  of  Alexander,  who,  having  pushed  his  conquests 
into  Asia,  made  Greece,  or  Macedonia,  m.ore  important. 
After  the  time  of  this  conqueror,  the  name  of  Greeks  was 
used  in  a  still  more  uncertain  and  enlarged  sense ;  because, 
the  Greeks  being  masters  of  Egypt  and  Syria,  the  countries^ 
beyond  the  Euphrates,  and  of  other  provinces,  the  Jews  were^ 
used  to  call  all  those  Gentile  people  Greeks,  who  were  subject 
to  the  Greek  empire,  either  in  the  east  or  west.  For  this 
reason,  in  many  passages  of  the  books  of  Maccabees,  in  the 
Gospels,  and  in  St.  Paul's  writings,  a  Greek  commonly  signi- 
fies a  Gentile. 

Javan,  or  Greece,  is  mentioned  in-Isaiah,  (Ixvi.  19.)  in  Eze- 
kiel, (xxvii.  13.  19.)  in  Daniel,  (xi.  2)  and  Zechariah  declares 


GRE  DICTIONARY    OF  THE   BIBLE.  17] 

tliat  God  shall  raise  up  the  sons  of  Zion  against  the  sons  of 
Javan,  (ix.  13.)  which  refers  to  the  wars  carried  on  by  tho 
Jews  under  the  Maccabees,  against  Antiochus  Epiphanes  and 
the  Greeks  who  possessed  the  kingdom  of  Syria.  Daniel 
(viii.  21.  X.  20.)  describes  Alexander  the  Great  by  the  name 
of  the  king  of  Javan.  Greece  anciently  included  JMacedonia, 
and  is  so  used  by  Daniel ;  but  in  the  time  of  St.  Paul  there 
was  a  distinction,  for  we  read  that  Paul,  "  passing  through 
Macedonia,  came  into  Greece." 

After  the  establishment  of  the  Grecian  dynasties  in  Asia, 
it  is  natural  that  Judea  should  be  considerably  affected  by 
them ;  and  the  books  of  the  Maccabees  afford  proofs  of  this. 
The  Roman  power,  superseding  the  Grecian  establishments, 
yet  left  traces  of  the  Greek  language,  customs,  &c.  to  the 
days  of  the  Herods,  where  the  gospel  history  commences. 
By  the  labours  of  the  apostles,  especially  of  Paul,  the  gospel 
was  propagated  in  those  countries  which  used  the  Greek  dia- 
lects ;  hence  we  are  interested  in  the  study  of  this  language, 
as  it  was  that  m  which  the  epistles  to  the  churches  of  those 
countries  were  written.  Many  flourishing  churches  were 
early  established  among  the  Greeks,  wdiich  for  a  long  time 
preserved  the  apostolic  precepts  and  customs  with  much  care. 
But  at  length  they  began  to  differ  on  pomts  of  doctrine — 
schisms  and  heresies  divided  the  church,  and  rancour  and 
persecution  followed.  To  check  these  evils,  councils  were 
called,  and  various  creeds  were  composed,  some  of  which  re- 
tain an  authority  to  the  present  day. 

The  removal  of  the  seat  of  government  by  Constantine, 
from  Rome  to  Constantmople,  gave  a  sensible  preponderance 
to  the  Grecian  districts  of  the  empire ;  and  the  ecclesiastical 
determinations  of  the  Greek  church  were  extensively  received 
w^ith  respect,  if  not  with  submission.  Greece  continued  to  enjoy 
the  presence  of  the  emperor  till  the  beginnmg  of  the  fifteenth 
century,  when  the  Turks  began  to  harass  the  empire,  and 
finally  took  Constantinople,  A.  D,  1453.  The  submission  of 
all  Greece  followed  ;  since  which  time,  this  country  and  its 
inliabitants  exhibit  a  picture  of  wretched  and  debased  slavery. 
Recent  events  seem  to  render  it  probable  that  a  part  of  the 
Greek  nation  has  regained  its  liberty ;  but  whether  they  are 
qualified  to  retain  it,  time  alone  can  determine. 

The  architectural  remains  of  Greece  still  attest  its  former 
grandeur,  though  many  of  its  most  beautiful  buildings,  which 
the  hand  of  time  might  have  spared,  have  fallen  before  the 


172 


SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY. 


HAD 


ruthless  barbarism  of  the  Turks,  who  seem  to  take  a  pleasure 
in  the  wanton  destruction  of  the  proudest  monuments  of 
antiquity. 

GuR,  a  place  near  Ibleam,  in  the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  west 
of  Jordan ;  where  Ahaziah,  king'  of  Judah,  was  mortally 
wounded  by  Jeshu.   2  Kings  ix.  27. 

GuR-BAAL,  the  name  of  a  place  inhabited  by  Arabians ;  the 
situation  of  which  is  not  known.  2  Chron.  xxvi.  7. 


H. 

Habor,  a  city  on  the  river  Gozan  in  IMedia,  to  which  the 
captive  Israelites  were  carried  by  the  king  of  Assyria.  2 
Kings  xvii.  6.  xviii.  11.    1  Chron.  v.  26. 

Hachilah,  a  hill  in  the  south-east  of  Judah,  near  Jeshimon  ; 
where  David  hid  himself  from  Saul.  (1  Sam.  xxiii.  19.  xxvi.  8.) 
Here  Jonathan  the  Maccabee  afterwards  built  the  almost  im- 
pregnable fortress  of  Massada,  whose  garrison  killed  them- 
selves after  the  taking  of  Jerusalem  by  Titus. 

Hadad-rimmon,    See  Adad-rimmon 

Hadashah,  a  town  in  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  87.)  and  according 
to  the  rabbins  one  of  the  smallest,  having  only  fifty  houses. 

Hadrach,  a  part  of  Syria,  between  Libanus  and  Anti-Li- 
banus ;  thought  %  some  to  I^e  part  of  the  territory  of  Damas- 
cus.   Zech,  ix.  1. 


HAU  dictionary  of  the  bible.  17S 

Hagarenes,  the  Ishmaelites,  or  descendants  of  Abraham 
and  Hagar. 

Hai,  the  same  as  Ai.     See  Part  I.  p.  56. 

Halah,  a  place  in  Media,  to  which  the  king-  of  Ass}Tia 
transported  the  captive  Israelites.  2  Kings  xvii.  6. 

Halhul,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  probably  not  far  from 
Hebron.  Josh.  xv.  58. 

Hamath,  is  a  term  frequently  used  in  Scripture ;  and  it 
seems  there  were  several  places  called  by  this  name. 

The  kingdom  of  Hamath  lay  on  the  north  of  Canaan,  ex- 
tending- from  the  Mediterranean  west,  to  Damascus  east. 
The  extent  of  Canaan  is  often  expressed  as  reaching  from  the 
entering-  in  of  Hamath,  to  tlie  river  of  Egypt.  Tlie  capital  of 
this  kmgdcm  was  sometimes  called  Hamath  Zobah.  It  is 
uncertain  whether  this  is  Hamath  the  great,  (Amos  vi.  2.) 
which  was  in  the  north  of  Syria.  Jerom  says  this  last  was 
the  same  as  Antioch.  There  was  also  a  place  called  Hamath 
in  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  near  the  entrance  into  Ccelo-Syria, 
which  was  probably  "  the  entering-  in  of  Ham.ath." 

Hammoa",  a  city  of  x\sher,  (Josh.  xix.  2S.)  probably  the  same 
as  that  said  to  be  in  Naphtali.  1  Chron.  vi.  76. 

Hammoth-dor,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Naphtali,  given  to  the 
Levites.  Josh.  xix.  35.  xxi.  32. 

Haxnathon,  a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon.    Josh.  xix.  14, 

Hanes,  a  city  of  Egypt,  (Isa.  xxx.  4.)  called  by  the  Greeks, 
Anusis.  St.  Jerom  thinks  it  lay  upon  the  borders  of  Ethio- 
pia ;  while  others  suppose  it  to  have  been  Daphnse  or  Pelu- 
sium,  near  Damietta. 

Hapharaim,  a  city  of  Issachar.  Josh.  xix.  19. 

Hara,  a  place  in  Media  or  Assyria,  to  which  some  of  the 
Israelites  were  carried  by  Tiglath-Pileser.   1  Chron.  v.  26. 

Haran,  or  Charan ;  See  Part  I.  p.  30. 

Hareth,  a  forest  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  to  which  David  fled 
from  Saul.  1  Sam.  xxii.  5. 

Harod,  a  well  or  fountain  in  the  plain  of  Jezreel ;  near  the 
hill  of  Moreh,  and  Mount  Gilboa,  Judg.  vii.  1. 

Harosheth,  a  city  of  Naphtali,  near  the  waters  of  Merom  : 
here  dwelt  Sisera,  who  commanded  the  troops  of  Jabin,  king 
of  Hazor.  Judges  iv.  2. 

Hatjran,  a  country  north-east  of  the  land  of  Canaan ;  pro- 
bably the  same  as  Iturea.  St.  Jerom  and  others  say  that  it 
is  the  country  south  of  Damascus.  According  to  Abulfeda, 
Bozra  is  the  capital  of  the  country  of  Hauran.  It  seems  the 
P2 


174  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  HAZ 

same  as  the  provmce  called  by  the  Greeks  Auranitis,  on  the 
east  of  Jordan. 

Havilah,  or  Chavilah ;  there  appears  to  be  two  countries 
of  this  name  mentioned  in  Scripture : 

1.  Havilah,  the  son  of  Cush,  (Gen.  x.  7.)  who  was  settled 
in  Arabia,  on  the  coast  of  the  Persian  Gulf  See  Part  I. 
p.  24.  It  is  believed  that  Gen.  xxv.  18.  and  1  Sam.  xv.  7. 
may  refer  to  this  Havilah. 

2.  Havilah  the  son  of  Joktan,  of  the  family  of  Shem.  (Gen. 
x.  29.)  The  sons  of  Joktan  dwelt  between  the  Mounts 
Mesha  and  Sephar,  which  are  generally  allowed  to  have  been 
in  Upper  Mesopotamia,  near  the  source  of  the  Tigris ;  con- 
sequently this  Havilah  was  seated  in  that  country  or  in  the 
south  of  Armenia.  This  agrees  with  the  supposition  that  the 
Tigris  was  the  Pison,  "  which  compasseth  the  whole  land  of 
Havilah."  (Gen.  ii.  11.)  The  situation  of  these  countries  is, 
however,  very  uncertain,  and  the  opinions  of  tlie  learned 
respecting  them  are  very  contradictory.  Dr.  Wells  supposes 
this  last  mentioned  Havilah  to  have  been  in  Arabia,  between 
the  southern  extremity  of  the  Dead  Sea  and  Egypt ;  and 
makes  the  above-mentioned  texts  of  Gen.  xxv.  18.  and  1  Sam. 
XV.  7.  refer  to  it :  the  other  Havilah  he  thinks  was  near  the 
head  of  the  river  Indus,  a  branch  of  which  was  the  Pison, 

Calmet  supposes  Havilah  to  have  been  in  the  region  where 
the  Tigris  and  Euphrates  unite,  and  empty  into  the  Persian 
Gulf 

Havotii-jair,  villages  in  the  land  of  Bashan  or  Gilead,  in 
the  tribe  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan.  Numb,  xxxii.  41. 
Deut.  iii.  14. 

Hazar-gadda,  a  city  in  the  south  of  the  tribe  of  Judah. 
Josh.  XV.  27. 

Hazar-shual,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  28.)  given  to 
Simeon,  xix.  3.  Neh.  xi.  27. 

Hazar-susah,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xix.  5. 

Hazeroth,  or  Hazcrim,  a  station  of  the  Israelites  in  the 
wilderness.  Numb.  xi.  35.  xii.  16.  Deut.  i.  1. 

Hazezon-tamar,  the  same  as  Engedi. 

Hazor  :  there  appear  to  have  been  three  cities  of  this  name 
in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  one  of  which  was  otherwise  called 
Hezron.  (Josh.  xv.  23.  25.)  Another  in  Naphtali.  (Josh.  xix. 
36.)  Another  in  Arabia,  (Jer.  xlix.  28.  30.  33.)  which  was 
once  a  celebrated  city,  and  the  capital  of  a  kingdom.     The 


riEL  DICTIONARY    OF    THE   BIBLE.  175 

Hazor  built  by  Solomon,  (1  Kings  ix.  15.)  was  probably  that 
in  Naplitali,  which  he  rebuilt  or  fortified. 

Hebron,  Chebron,  or  Kirjath-arba ;  an  ancient  city  in  the 
tribe  of  Judah,  and  much  noted  in  Scripture.  See  Part  I. 
p.  32. 

Helam,  a  town  east  of  Jordan,  which  was  a  place  of 
rendezvous  for  the  Syrian  troops.  (2  Sam.  x.  16.)  It  is 
thought  to  be  the  same  as  Alamatha,  mentioned  by  Ptolemy 
in  the  region  of  Trachonitis.        * 

Helbah,  a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Asher,  from  which  the  Ca- 
naanites  were  not  driven  out.  Judges  i.  31. 

Helbon,  a  place  near  Damascus,  famous  for  its  wine. 
(Ezek.  xxvii.  18.)  This  is  thought  to  be  the  place  now 
known  by  the  name  of  Aleppo,  called  by  the  Arabs  Halab. 
From  this  place  the  ancient  kings  of  Persia  had  the  wine  for 
their  own  tables.  It  is  situated  in  the  north  of  Syria,  and  is 
one  of  the  most  important  cities  in  the  Turkish  empire ;  hav- 
ing about  250,000  inhabitants,  and  carries  on  an  extensive 
commerce,  by  means  of  caravans,  with  all  parts  of  the  East. 

Heleph,  a  city  in  the  borders  of  Naphtali,  not  far  from 
Sidon.  Josh.  xix.  33. 

Heliopolis,  a  city  in  Egypt.     See  Part  I.  p.  39. 

There  was  also  a  city  in  CoBlo-Syria  called  Heliopolis,  or 
Balbec ;  supposed  to  have  been  referred  to  by  Amos,  (i.  5.) 
where  he  says,  "  I  will  cut  off  the  inhabitants  from  the  plain 
of  Avon,"  or  Beckathaven ;  the  idoVs  camp,  or  the  valley  of 
iniquity ;  by  which  he  is  supposed  to  mean  the  place  since 
called  Baal-beck,  that  is,  the  valley  of  Baal,  or  the  idol.  The 
inhabitants  of  Balbec  have  mdeed  been  "cut  off;"  for  the 
place  is  now  a  desert ;  but  magnificent  rums  yet  remain  to 
tell  its  former  grandeur.  Many  pillars  and  columns  of  mar- 
ble are  yet  standing,  15  feet  in  circumference  and  44  feet 
high ;  some,  including  their  entablatures,  are  72  feet  in  height. 
The  ground  is  strewed  with  broken  colunms,  mutilated  capi- 
tals, and  the  remains  of  pilasters,  entablatures  and  cornices, 
around  ruined  courts,  edifices  and  temples,  which  display  all 
the  ornaments  of  the  noblest  architecture,  and  are  adorned 
with  the  richest  workmanship  of  sculpture.  The  size  of  the 
stones  which  compose  the  mouldering  walls  is  surprising; 
being  from  28  to  35  feet  long,  and  9  feet  thick.  In  one  place, 
three  stones  extend  175  feet ;  one  of  them  being  59  feet  long, 
and  the  other  two  each  58 ;  they  are  twelve  feet  thick,  and 
of  white  marble.     At  a  quarry,  near  these  ruins,  is  a  stone 


176  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  HER 

hewn  on  three  sides,  which  is  69  feet  2  inches  long-,  12  feet 
10  inches  broad,  and  13  feet  3  inches  thick.  By  what  means 
the  ancients  moved  these  huge  and  ponderous  masses  of  mar- 
ble, is  utterly  inconceivable !  The  ruins  of  a  temple  dedicated 
to  the  sun,  is  the  most  surprising  object  among  the  remains  of 
this  once  populous  and  splendid  city.  Balbec  lies  in  the  way 
from  Tyre  to  Tadmor  or  Palmyra,  and  doubtless  enjoyed  a 
liberal  share  of  the  opulent  traffic  of  those  populous  and 
wealthy  cities.    Its  ruins  are  50  miles  north-west  of  Damascus. 

Helkath,  a  city  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  25.)  given  to  the  Le- 
vites.  (xxi.  31.) 

Hena,  a  city  near  the  Euphrates,  betv/een  Mesopotamia 
and  Arabia.  2  Kings  xviii.  34. 

Hepher,  a  country  probably  in  the  north  of  Judah.  (1  Kings 
iv.  10.)     A  city.  Josh.  xii.  17. 

Heres,  a  mountain  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  on  which  was  situ- 
ated the  town  of  Aijalon.  Judges  i.  35. 

Hermon,  a  branch  of  the  mountains  of  Lebanon,  forming 
the  north-eastern  boundary  of  the  land  of  Canaan ;  and  which, 
extending  further  south,  along  the  eastern  border  of  Manasseh, 
is  called  Mount  Gilead.  Mount  Hermon  is  mentioned  (Deut. 
iii.  8,  9.)  as  the  northern  boundary  of  the  kings  of  the  Amor- 
ites,  or  of  tlie  country  east  of  Jordan ;  and  there  we  learn 
that  it  was  called  by  the  Sidonians,  Sirlon,  and  by  theAmorites 
Shenir.  In  cliap.  iv.  48.  we  find  this  same  mountain  called 
Sion,  instead  of  Sirion ;  though  in  the  Hebrew  text  it  is  writ- 
ten differently  from  the  name  of  Mount  Sion  at  Jerusalem. 
In  like  manner  the  name  given  it  by  the  Amorites,  Shenir,  is 
sometimes  written  Seir ;  and  means  this  Mount  Hermon, 
instead  of  Mount  Seir,  in  Edom. 

Tiiere  also  appears  to  have  been  another  mountain  called 
Hermon,  on  the  west  of  Jordan,  and  not  far  from  Mount 
Tabor.  (Psalm  Ixxxix.  12.  cxxxiii.  3.)  Mr.  Maundrell  tells  us 
that  in  three  hours  and  a  half  from  the  river  Kishon,  he  came 
to  a  small  brook,  from  which  he  had  an  extensive  prospect  of 
the  plain  of  Esdraelon.  To  the  east,  six  or  seven  hours  dis- 
tant, Nazareth  was  visible,  and  the  two  mountains.  Tabor  and 
Hermon.  He  adds,  "  we  were  sufficiently  instructed  by  expe- 
rience, what  the  holy  Psalmist  means  by  the  'dew  of  Hermon,' 
our  tents  being  wet  with  it,  as  if  it  liad  rained  all  night."  The 
learned  Calmet,  however,  doubts  whether  the  name  of  Her- 
mon was  ever  applied  to  any  mountain,  west  of  the  Jordan, 
till  days  more  modern  than  the  writing  of  the  Scriptures. 


HOB  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  177 

Heshbon,  a  city,  according-  to  Eusebius,  twenty  miles  east 
of  the  Jordan,  and  nearly  opposite  Jericlio.  It  was  formeriy 
the  capital  of  the  Amorites ;  and  their  kin^,  Silion,  is  some- 
times called  king,  of  Heshbon.  (Deut.  ii.  26.  Josh.  xiii.  10.) 
After  the  conquest  of  the  country,  Heshbon  was  given  to  the 
tribe  of  Reuben,  (Josh.  xiii.  17.)  but  seems  afterwards  to  have 
been  made  over  to  Gad.  (verse  26.)  It  was  near  the  border 
or  boundary  between  these  two  tribes.  This  place  is  noted 
for  its  fish-pools,  (Song  vii.  4.)  and  seems  to  have  had  a  lake 
near  it.  (2  Mace.  xii.  16.)  The  Caspis  mentioned  in  this 
passage  is  supposed  to  be  Heshbon ;  which  continued  to  be  a 
noble  city  in  the  days  of  Eusebius  and  Jerom;  being  then 
called  by  the  Greeks,  Esbus,  and  reckoned  a  city  of  Arabia, 
under  which  name  was  then  comprehended  a  considerable 
part  of  Perea,  or  the  country  beyond  Jordan. 

After  the  carrying  away  of  the  ten  tribes,  Heshbon  .was 
repossessed  by  the  Moabites ;  w;hence  in  the  prophecies  against 
Moab,  ^Isa.  xv.  xvi.  Jer.  xlviii.  xlix.)  we  find/ frequent  men- 
tion of  it. 

Heshjion,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  27. 

Hethlox,  a  city  on  the  northern  limits  of  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan. Ezek.  xlvii.  15.  xlviii.  1. 

Hezrox,  a  city  in  the  south  of  Judah, 

Hiddekel,  one  of  the  rivers  of  Eden.  See  Part  I.  p.  9,  10. 

Hierapolis,  a  city  of  Phrygia,  in  Asia  Minor,  near  Colosse 
and  Laodicea.  St.  Paul,  in  his  epistle  to  the  Colossians,  (iv.  13.) 
expresses  his  zeal  and  affection  for  those  of  Hierapolis.  This 
city  was  destroyed  by  an  earthquake  in  the  early  ages  of  Chris- 
tianity. Some  white  cliffs  in  the  vicinity  of  the  modern  town, 
called  by  the  Turks  Pambuck-Knlasi,  or  the  cotton  tower,  are 
said  to  mark  the  site  of  the  ancient  city.  Here  are  vast  and 
eplendid  ruins,  consisting  of  walls,  arches,  and  pillars,  of  great 
height  and  excellent  workmanship ;  provmg  this  to  have  once 
been  a  great  and-  beautiful  city.  The  numerous  temples 
erected  there  in  the  idolatrous  ages,  with  so  much  art  and 
cost,  probably  gave  it  the  name  of  Hierapolis,  the  sacred  city. 
It  is  17  miles  north-west  of  Laodicea,  the  river  Lycus  ruimiDg 
between  them. 

IiiNxoM,  a  valley  near  Jerusalem,  sometimes  called  the 
valley  of  the  son  of  Hinnom.    See  Gehinnom. 

HiviTES,  a  people  of  Canaan.    See  Part  I.  p.  28. 

HoBAii,  a  place  in  Syria,  to  which  Abraham  pursued  the 
army  which  had  taken  Lot  (Gen.  xiv.  15.)    It  is  supposed  bv 


178  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  ICO 

some  to  be  the  same  as  Abila,  on  tlie  north-west  of  Damascus; 
but  others  place  it  beyond  that  city,  towards  the  Euphrates, 
where  there  was  a  place  called  by  the  Greeks  Sopha,  and 
Sophene. 

HoLOx,  a  city  in  the  mountains  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  51.) 
also  a  Levitical  city,  and  a  city  of  refuge.  (Josh.  xxi.  15.) 
A  city  of  Moab  is  mentioned  by  this  name.  Jer.  xlviii.  21. 

HoR,  a  mountain.    See  Part  I.  p.  48. 

HoREB,  a  celebrated  mountain  in  Arabia,  near  the  Red  Sea. 
See  Part  I.  p.  45. 

HoREM,  a  city  of  Naphtali.  Josh.  xix.  38. 

HoR-HAGiDGAD,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the 
desert,  (Numb,  xxxiii.  32, 33.)  written  Gudirodah  in  Deut.  x.  7. 

HoRiTES,  an  ancient  people  inhabiting  Mount  Seir  in  Edom, 
before  Esau  settled  in  that  country.  (Gen.  xiv.  6.  xxxvi.  20.  30.) 
They  had  princes,  and  seem  to  have  been  a  considerable 
nation  before  that  time :  afterwards  they  appear  to  have  been 
blended  with  the  Edomites,  or  descendants  of  Esau,  so  as  to 
have  composed  but  one  people.  (Deut.  ii.  1.  xxxiii.  2.  Judges 
V.  4.)    Their  country  lay  south-east  of  Canaan. 

HoRMAH,  a  city  of  Judah,  afterwards  given  to  Simeon. 
(Josh.  XV.  30.  xix.  4.  Numb.  xiv.  45.  Deut.  i.  44.)  Its  original 
name  was  Zephathah,  Judges  i.  17.  2  Chron.  xiv.  10. 

HoROXAiM,  a  city  of  Moab,  Isa.  xv,  5. 

HosAH,  a  towm  of  Asher.  Josh.  xix.  29. 

HuKKOK,  a  city  on  the  boundary  between  Asher  and  Naph- 
tali, (Josh.  xix.  34.)  given  to  the  Levites,  (1  Chron.  vi.  75.) 
and  probably  the  same  called  Helkath.  Josh,  xxi.  31. 

HuMTAH,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh,  xv.  54. 


I. 

Ibleam,  a  town  of  Manasseh,  west  of  Jordan,  given  to  the 
Levites :  but  the  Canaanites  were  not  driven  out.  Josh,  xvii.  11. 
Judges  i.  27,  2  Kings  ix.  27.  1  Chron.  vi.  70. 

Ico.MUM,  the  capital  of  Lycaonia,  in  Asia  Minor.  St,  Paul 
visited  this  place  and  converted  many,  both  Jews  and  Gentiles, 
(Acts  xiii,  51.  xiv.  1.)  but  the  Jews  exciting  the  people 
against  him  and  Barnabas,  they  were  obliged  to  leave  tlie 
place.  A  Christian  church  was  supported  here  for  800  years; 
but  at  present  not  a  Christian  nor  a  Jew  is  suffered  to  reside 
within  the  walls  of  the  city.  It  is  now  called  Cogni,  and.stands 


IND  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  l^O 

in  a  pleasant  situation,  on  a  spacious  and  fertile  plain,  110 
miles  from  the  Mediterranean. 

Idalah,  a  city  of  Zebalon.  Josh.  xix.  15. 

Idu^'.ea,  the  Greek  name  for  Edom.  In  later  times,  how- 
ever, Idamea  seems  to  hav^e  comprehended  more  than  tho 
orig-inal  country  of  the  Edomites,  Mount  Seir;  and  probably 
advanced  into  the  southern  part  of  Judea,  which,  during-  the 
captivity  of  the  Jews  at  Babylon,  seems  to  have  been  pos- 
sessed by  the  neighbouring  Idumeans.  These,  when  conquered 
by  the  Maccabees,  chose  rather  to  embrace  Judaism  than  to 
quit  their  habitations.  They  came  to  the  assistance  of  Jeru- 
salem, when  besieged  by  the  Romans ;  but  did  not  remain 
until  it  was  taken,  having  returned  to  their  own  country,  load- 
ed with  booty.  Though  they  were  incorporated  with  the 
Jewish  nation,  their  country  was  long  called  Idumea,  and  still 
retained  its  name  in  the  times  of  the  New  Testament,  (Mark 
iii.  7,  8.)  and  for  a  considerable  time  aftervv^ards. 

IiM,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  29. 
.    Ije-abaki.ai,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites,  (Numb.  xxi. 
11.  xxxiii.  44.)  called  in  the  next  verse  lim.     This  place  was 
in  the  east  of  Moab. 

Ijon,  a  city  in. the  northern  part  of  Canaan,  taken  by  Ben* 
hadad,  (1  Kings  xv.  20.)  thought  by  some  to  l3e  the  same  as 
Hethlon. 

Illtricxjm,  a  province  in  the  north^w^est  of  Macedonia ;  ly- 
ing along  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Adriatic,  or  Gulf  of  Venice ; 
extending  in  length  480  miles,  and  in  breadth  120.  It  was 
divided  into  two  parts,  Liburnia,  nov7  called  Croatia,  north ; 
and  Dalmatia,  which  still  retains  its  name,  south.  St.  Paul 
(Rom.  XV.  19.)  says  that  he  preached  the  gospel  from  Jerusa- 
lem round  about  to  lllyricum ;  meaning  that  he  had  preached 
in  all  the  countries  lying  in  the  circuitous  route  between  them. 
It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  Paul  preached  in  lllyricum ; 
but  only  travelled  to  its  borders.  There  are  now  m  this  coun- 
try many  Christians ;  it  being  chiefly  under  the  Austrian  go- 
vernment. 

India  ;  this  country  i-s  mentioned  in  Scripture,  (Esther  i.  1, 
viii.  9.)  "  Ahasuerus  reigned  from  India  even  unto  Ethiopia;" 
where  it  is  thought  to  mean  the  country  about  the  river  Indus, 
or  Hindostan.  There  does  not  appear  to  be  any  record  in 
history  of  the  Persian  power  ever  having  permanently  main- 
tained itself  east  of  the  Indus.  Only  Alexan-der  the  Great 
ever  thought  of  establishing  a  power  beyond  that  river.     Na- 


180  SC'RII*TrRE  GEOGRAPHY.  INt? 

dir  Shah  afterwards  penetrated  to  Delhi,  hut  he  returned  from 
thence  to  Persia,  and  did  not  attempt  to  retain  both  regions' 
under  his  rule. 

By  India  may  be  understood  the  whole  of  tliat  country 
where  the  primitive  religion  and  language  of  the  Hindoos 
prevail  at  the  present  day ;  including  Hindostan,  the  stupen- 
dous mountains  of  Thibet,  the  beautiful  valley  of  Cashmere, 
the  country  of  Nepaul  and  Bootan,  Siam  and  Ava,  or  the  Bir- 
man  Empire,  &c.  These  countries  have  been  inhabited,  from 
the  earliest  antiquity,  by  a  people  who  have  no  resemblance, 
eitlier  in  their  figure  or  manners,  to  any  of  tiie  surrounding 
nations ;  and  though  different  conquerors  have  established 
themselves,  at  different  times,  in  various  parts  of  India,  yet 
the  aboriginal  inhabitants  liave  lost  \'ery  little  of  tlieir  primi- 
tive character.  This  people,  though  now  humbled  and  de- 
based, are  believed  to  have  been  onee  eminent  in  arts- and 
arms,  happy  in  their  government,  and  distinguished  in  various 
knowledge. 

This  country  was  probably  settled  at  a  very  early  period,  by 
the  immediate  descendants  of  Ham,  the  son  of  Noah.  (Asia- 
tic Researches,  vol.  3.  p.  490.)  It'  was  -the  Hamites  who 
founded  the  first  monarchy  of  the  Chaldeans,  invented  letters, 
observed  and  named  the  luminaries  of  the  firmament;  and 
were  thence  dispersed,  at  various  intervals,  and  in  various 
colonies,  over  many  countries.  The  tribes  of  Misraim  and 
Cush  seem  to  have  been  widely  extended,  particularly  the 
iatter,  and  by  them  Africa,  and  a  large  proportion  of  Asia, 
were  principally  peopled.  The  Phenicians  were  of  this  race, 
who  afterwards  passed  into  Greece  and  Italy,  supplanting  part 
of  the  clans  wlio  had  preceded  them,  and  uniting  with  others; 
while  some  of  this  widely  spread,  and  numerous  family,  who 
appear  to  have  been  the  first  promoters  of  learning  and  science, 
are  thought  to  have  found  their  way  to  Mexico  and  Peru, 
tvhere  rude  traces  of  literature  and  mythology  have  been  dis- 
covered, resembling  those  of  Egypt  and  India.  These  facts 
corroborate  Scripture  prophecy.  Noah  foretold  that  the  chil- 
dren of  Ham  should  be  servants  of  servants.  (Gen.  ix.  25.) 
And  it  may  here  bo  remarked  that  this  passage,  in  some  copies 
of  the  Scripture,  reads,  "  Cursed  bo  Ham,  the  father  of  Ca- 
naan, a  servant  of  servants  shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren."  Ac- 
cordingly, a  hundred  mallions  of  this  people  in  India,  besides 
the  Africans,  and  millions  in  America,  are  subdued  and  oppress- 
ed by  the  dominion  of  the  Europeans. 


LND  DICTIOJJARY   OF   THE   BIRLE.  181 

It  is  generally  believed  that  Christianity  was  established  in 
India  at  a  very  early  period.  St.  Bartholomew  and  St.  Tho- 
mas are  both  said  to  have  preached  the  gospel  in  this  country ; 
and  the  venerable  Panta^nus  of  Alexandria,  who  visited  India 
about  the  year  189,  found  Christians  there,  who  had  the  gos- 
pel of  St.  Matthew  in  Hebrew.  At  the  council  of  Nice,  in 
the  year  325,  John  the  primate  of  India  was  present,  and  sub- 
scribed his  name.  In  the  sixth  century  there  was  a  seminary 
for  Christians  at  Serinda ;  and  in  636  two  monks  went  thence 
to  Constantinople.  In  the  13th  century,  before  the  Portuguese 
had  visited  the  country,  Marco  Polo  and  others  say  that  Chris- 
tians were  numerous  in  India ;  and  when  Vasco  de  Gama  ar- 
rived at  Malabar,  on  the  western  coast,  in  1503,  he  found 
Christian  churches  and  a  Christian  king.  Since  that  time 
little  has  been  kuovvu  respecting  the  Christians  of  India,  till 
within  a  few  years  they  have  been  visited  by  the  learned  and 
pious  Dr.  Buchanan,  Vv' ho  assures  us  that  more  than  200,000 
Christians  now  inhabit  these  countries,  of  pure  morals,  enjoy- 
ing gospel  ordinances,  and  ha^'ing  colleges  for  the  instruction 
of  their  youth. 


\',  jJow  on  the  Funeral  Pile  of  har  Husband. 


The  most  remarkable  of  the  cruel  rites  connected  with  the 
religion  of  the  Hindoos,  is  the  practice,  which  has  existea 
from  time  immemorial,  of  burning  the  widow  on  the  funeral 
pile  of  her  dead  husband.     This  practice,  though  long  contin- 

Q 


i82  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  ISR 

aed  and  permitted  by  the  British  authorities,  has  lately  been 
prohibited  in  that  part  of  India  under  their  jurisdiction. 

Ionia,  a  country  in  the  south-west  of  Asia  Minor ;  also  a 
name  sometimes  given  to  Hellas  or  Achaia,  from  its  having 
been  inhabited  by  lonians.  ^ee  Greece ;  also  Javan,  Fart  I. 
p.  18. 

IsHMAEL,  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Hagar,  from  whom  de- 
scended the  Ishmaelites  or  Arabians.  See  Arabia ;  also  Part 
I.  p.  35. 

Isles  of  the  Gentiles,  (Gen.  x.  5.)  the  countries  of  Asia 
Minor  and  Europe.  It  is  evident  that  by  the  word  isle,  in  our 
translation,  the  Hebrews  understood  not  only  such  countries 
as  are  surrounded  by  the  sea ;  but  also  such  as  wxre  separated 
from  them  by  the  sea,  or  to  which  they  usually  went  by 
water.  (Isa.  xi.  10,  11.)  The  original  term  in  Hebrew  seems 
to  denote  settlement,  or  plantation.  "By  these  were  the 
settlements  of  the  Gentiles  divided  into  their  lands."  (Gen.  x. 
5.)  See  also.  Job  xxii.  30.  Isa.  xlii.  15.  xiii.  22. 

Israelites,  a  people  descended  from  Jacob  or  Israel ;  called 
at  first  Hebrews,  being  the  descendants  of  Eber  or  Heber, 
(1  Chron.  i.  18.  25.)  and  in  later  times  Jews,  from  the  tribe 
of  Judah,  or  rather  from  the  kingdom  of  Judah,  after  the  revolt 
of  the  ten  tribes.  After  this  revolt,  the  name  Israelites  was 
more  appropriate  to  these  ten  tribes,  who  had  erected  a  sepa- 
rate kingdom  under  Jeroboam,  and  who,  in  a  great  measure, 
abandoned  themselves  to  idolatry  and  infidelity ;  while  the 
kingdom  of  Judah  maintained  their  religion  in  greater  purity. 
For  their  impiety,  the  Israelites  were  conquered  and  carried 
into  captivity,  and  have  long  since  ceased  "  to  be  reckoned 
among  the  nations."  The  tribes  east  of  Jordan  were  first 
carried  away  by  Tiglath-Pileser,  A.  M.  3264 ;  and  nineteen 
years  after,  Salmaneser  took  Samaria,  the  capital  of  the  king- 
dom, and  carried  the  other  tribes  beyond  the  Euphrates,  into 
Media,  south  of  the  Caspian  Sea.  (2  Kings  xvii.  6.)  It  is  the 
general  opinion  that  these  tribes  have  never  returned  from 
captivity.  About  thirty  years  after  this,  the  kingdom  of 
Judah  was  overthrown  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  and  the  Jews  also 
carried  into  captivity,  to  Babylon.  Cyrus  afterwards  per- 
mitted the  Jews  to  return  to  their  own  country,  and  Darius 
gave  them  permission  to  rebuild  the  temple.  It  does  not  ap- 
pear, however,  that  any  considerable  number  of  the  Israelites 
ever  returned ;  but  that  they  were  chiefly,  if  not  all,  Jews, 
(Ezra.i.  5.  iv.  1.)  and  are  so  called  in  the  edict  of  Dariua 
Ezra  vi.  7. 


rSR  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  183 

The  ten  tribes  of  Israel  have  been  long  considered  as  lost, 
or  mingled  with  other  nations ;  but  in  the  Asiatic  Researches 
we  learn  that  a  people  have  recently  been  discovered  in 
Afghanistan,  or  east  Persia,  (not  very  distant  from  the  place 
where  it  is  thought  the  captives  were  settled  by  Salmaneser,) 
who,  it  is  confidently  believed,  are  the  lost  ten  tribes  of  Israel. 
A  considerable  district  of  this  country  is  called  Hazareh,  or 
Hazareth,  which  is  probably  the  Arsareth  mentioned  in 
Esdras.  (See  2  Esdras  xiii.  40.  45.)  It  is  said  that  this  peo- 
ple have  traditions  of  their  origin  ;  and  the  Persian  historians, 
with  whose  empire  they  have  always  been  connected,  assert 
that  the  Afghans  are  descendants  of  the  Hebrews.  The 
names  of  their  families,  too,  are  distinguished  by  the  very 
names  of  the  Hebrew  tribes,  as  Reuben,  Simeon,  &c.  Their 
language,  which  has  been  examined  by  Mr.  Vansittart,  he 
says  is  manifestly  of  Hebrew  origin.  Dr.  Buchanan,  during 
his  residence  in  India,  investigated  this  subject,  and  was  fully 
convinced,  from  many  proofs  which  he  obtained  respecting 
this  people,  that  they  are  the  descendants  of  the  lost  Israelites. 
Among  other  circumstances  mentioned  by  him,  he  says  he 
asked  the  black  Jews,  a  people  in  the  south  of  India,  where 
their  brethren,  the  great  body  of  the  ten  tribes,  were  to  be 
found.  They  answered  promptly,  in  the  north,  in  the  regions 
adjacent  to  Persia.  That  eminent  scholar,  Sir  William  Jones, 
Vv^hose  residence  in  India  gave  him  the  best  opportunities  of 
mformation  on  this  subject,  has  also  given  it  as  his  opinion 
that  the  Afghans  were  descended  from  the  Hebrews.  St. 
Jerom,  in  the  fifth  century,  writing  his  notes  upon  Hosea,  has 
these  words :  "  Unto  this  day  the  ten  tribes  are  subject  to  the 
kings  of  Persia,  nor  has  their  captivity  ever  been  loosed." 
Josephus  recites  a  speech  made  by  king  Agrippa  to  the  Jews, 
in  which  he  exiiortt  diaoi  to  submit  to  the  Romans,  and  not 
to  stretch  their  hopes  bey^ond  the  Euphrates,  that  any  of  their 
fellow  tribes  might  come  to  their  aid  out  of  Adiabene  ;  telling 
them  that  if  those  tribes  wished  to  come,  the  Parthian  king 
w^ould  not  permit  it.  Our  limits  will  not  allow  us  to  adduce 
ether  authorities,  which  might  be  easily  done  ;  but  we  think 
sufficient  has  been  said  to  show  that  the  posterity  of  the  ten 
tribes  still  exist  in  the  countries  to  which  they  were  carried 
in  their  first  captivity. 

_  For  a  more  particular  account  of  the  country,  nation,  and 
history  of  the  ancient  Israelites,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
article  Judea, 


184  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  JAG 

IssACHAR,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  I. 
p.  66. 

Italy,  (Acts  xxvii.  6.)     See  Rome. 

Ithnan,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  23. 

Ittah-kazixN,  a  town  in  the  border  of  the  tribe  of  Zebulon. 
Josh.  xix.  13. 

Iturea,  a  province  of  Syria,  east  of  the  Jordan,  and  south 
of  Trachonitis;  includino-  the  country  formerly  under  the 
dominion  of  the  king  of  Bashan.  afterwards  called  by  the 
Greeks  Batanea,  and  wliich  v.^as  given  to  the  half  tribe  of 
Manasseh.  Iturea  is  thought  to  have  received  its  name  from 
Jetur,  or  letur,  the  son  of  Ishmael,  (Gen.  xxv.  1.5.)  who  settled 
in  this  region,  and  whose  posterity  was  driven  out,  or  subdu- 
ed, by  the  Amoritcs,  of  whom  Og  was  king  in  the  time  of 
Moses.  Philip,  one  of  He-rod's  sons,  was  tctrarch  or  governor 
of  Iturea  when  John  the  Baptist  entered  upon  his  ministry 
Luke  iii.  1. 

Ivah,  (2  Kmgs  xix.  13.)     See  Ava. 


J. 

Jaakan,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  desert. 
See  Bene-jaakan. 

Jaazer,  a  city  of  the  Amorites.     See  Jazer. 

Jabbok,  a  brook  or  river,  rising  in  the  mountains  of  Gilead, 
and  flowing  westward  to  the  Jordan,  into  which  it  empties,  a 
little  south  of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  This  stream  separated  the 
land  of  the  Ammonites  from  the  kingdom  of  Bashan. 

Jabesh,  or  Jabesh-gilcad,  a  city  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jor- 
dan, and  near  Mount  Gilead,  from  which  it  received  its  name. 
Judges  xxi.  8. 

Jabneel,  a  city  in  the  ti'ibe  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  11.)  also 
another  upon  the  borders  of  Naphtali.  Josh.  xix.  33. 

Jabineh,  a  city  of  the  Philistines,  (2  Chron.  xxvi.  6.)  See 
Jamnia. 

Jacob's  well,  a  well  near  Shechem,  in  the  valley  between 
Mounts  Gerizim  and  Ebal.  This  well  is  still  shown,  and  is 
sunk  in  a  solid  rock  ;  it  is  9  feet  in  diameter,  and  105  deep. 
Here  our  Saviour  conversed  with  the  woman  of  Samaria. 
John  iv.  12. 

Jagur,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  21. 

Jahaz,  or  Jahaza,  a  city  of  Reuben,  (Numb,  xxl  23.  Deut 


JEA  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  185 

ii.  32.  Josh.  xiii.  18.)  given  to  the  Levites,  (1  Chron.  vi.  78.) 
and  ravaged  by  the  Assyrians  and  Chaldeans.  Isa.  xv.  4. 

Jair,  (Josh.  xiii.  30.)  See  Havoih-jair. 

Jamma,  a  town  on  the  coast  of  tlie  l^.Iediterranean,  in  the 
west  of  the  tribe  of  Dan,  between  Joppa  and  Ashdod,  thirty 
miles  from  Jerusalem,  (1  Mace.  iv.  15.  v.  58.  2  Mace.  xii.  8.) 
at  present  a  village  called  Yebna,  situated  about  twelve  miles 
&om  Jaffa  or  Joppa. 

Janoah,  a  city  of  Ephraim,  (Josh.  xvi.  6,  7.)  taken  and 
mined  by  Tiglath-Pileser,  king  of  Assyria.  2  Kings  xv.  29. 

Janum,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  53. 

Japhia,  a  city  of  Galilee,  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon.  JosL 
xix.  12. 

Japhleti,  a  town  on  the  borders  of  Ephraim  and  Benjamin. 
Josh.  xvi.  3. 

Japho,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  afterwards  called  Joppa. 
Josh.  xix.  46. 

Jarmuth,  a  city  of  Judah,  ten  miles  south-west  from 
Jerusalem ;  the  king  of  which  was  killed  by  Joshua.  Josh.  x. 
3.  5.  xii.  11.  XV.  35.  Neh.  xi.  29. 

Also  a  city  of  Issachar,  given  to  the  Levites,  (Josh.  xxi.  29.) 
otherwise  called  Remeth,  (xLx.  21.)  and  Ramoth.  1  Chron. 
vi.  73. 

Jattir,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  48.)  given  to  the  Levites. 
(xxi.  14.) 

Javan,  one  of  the  sons  of  Japheth.  (Gen.  x.  2.)  See  Part 
I.  p.  18 ;  also  Greece. 

Jazer,  a  city  east  of  Jordan,  given  to  the  tribe  of  Gad,  and 
afterwards  to  the  Levites.  (Josh.  xiii.  25.  xxi.  39.)  It  lay  at 
the  foot  of  the  mountains  of  Gilead,  near  a  brook  of  the  same 
name  which  falls  into  the  Arnon.  Eusebius  and  Jerom  say 
it  was  1.5  miles  from  Keshbon,  and  a  little  south  of  Ramoth 
Gilead,  at  the  head  of  a  large  river  which  fell  into  the  Jor- 
dan, probably  the  Arnon.  The  Sea  of  Jazer ^  mentioned  Jer. 
xlviii.  32.  was  a  lake  or  pond  near  the  head  of  that  river,  and 
not  far  from  the  town  called  Jazer.  The  Hebrews  frequently 
called  all  considerable  waters,  such  as  rivers,  lakes,  and 
ponds,  by  the  name  oP  seas. 

Jearim,  a  mount  in  the  borders  of  Judah  and  Benjamin, 
(Josh.  XV.  10.)  probably  that  on  v/hich  the  city  of  Kirjath- 
jearim  was  built. 

Jebcs,  an  ancient  city  of  Canaan,  called  afterwards  Jerusa- 
lem.   (Josh.  X.  XV.  8.  Judges  xix.  10,  &c.)     See  Jerusalem. 
Q2 


186  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  JER 

Jebusites,  a  people  descended  from  Jebus,  the  son  of  Ca- 
naan,    ^ee  Part  I.  p.  27. 

Jehoshaphat,  valley  of,  called  also  the  Valley  of  Kidron, 
because  the  brook  Kidron  runs  through  it ;  a  valley  east  of 
Jerusalem,  between  the  city  and  the  Mount  of  Olives. 

Jehud,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Dan.  Josh.  xix.  45. 

Jerahmeelites,  a  people  mentioned  in  1  Sam.  xxvii.  10 
probably  inhabiting-  part  of  Arabia,  soutii  of  Judah. 

Jericho,  a  city  of  Canaan  frequently  mentioned  in  Scrip- 
ture.    See  Part  I.  p.  55 

Jervsalem,  Jebus,  or  Salem,  the  capital  of  Judea ;  a  very 
famous  and  ancient  city,  founded,  according  to  Manetho,  by 
the  shepherds  who  invaded  Egypt  at  a  remote  period  of 
antiquity.  According  to  Josephus,  it  v/as  the  capital  of  Mel 
chizedek's  kingdom,  which  is  called  Salem  in  the  book  of 
Genesis.  Some  suppose  it  to  have  been  founded  by  Melchi 
zedek,  about  the  year  of  the  v/orld  2023,  who  called  it  Salem, 
which  signities  jieace.  It  was  afterwards  taken  by  the  Jebu- 
sites, the  descendants  of  Jebus,  a  son  of  Canaan.  They 
erected  a  fortress  on  Mount  Zion,  to  which  they  gave  the 
name  of  Jebus,  their  father,  the  whole  city  being  then  called 
Jerusalem,  which  signifies  vision  of  peace.  Adoni-bezek,  the 
king  of  the  Jebusites,  and  the  most  powerful  of  the  Canaanite 
kings,  was  defeated  and  killed  by  Joshua,  who  destroyed 
many  of  the  people,  (Josh,  x.)  but  it  does  not  appear  that  he 
took  the  city,  or  any  part  of  it.  Shortly  after  his  death,  hov/- 
ever,  it  was  taken  and  burnt  by  the  children  of  Judah; 
(Judges  i.  8.)  but  this  could  only  have  been  the  lower  part  of 
the  city,  as  we  read  immediately  afterwards  that  the  Benja- 
mites,  to  whom  the  city  was  allotted,  "  did  not  drive  out  the 
Jebusites  that  inhabited  Jerusalem,"  who  continued  to  retain 
possession  of  the  upper  town,  or  citade:  of  Jebus,  for  400 
years  after,  when  they  were  driven  out  by  David,  who  repair- 
ed the  whole  city,  and  built  a  new  one  on  Mount  Zion,  on  the 
site  of  the  fort  of  the  Jebusites,  which  he  called  the  city  of 
David.  2  Sam.  v.  1  Chron.  xi. 

During  the  reigns  of  David  and  Solomon,  this  city  was  the 
metropolis  of  the  kingdom,  and  continued  to  increase  in  wealth 
and  splendour.  At  festivals  it  was  the  resort  of  the  whole 
population  of  the  country ;  and  by  the  power  and  commercial 
spirit  of  Solomon,  it  was  made  the  centre  of  most  of  the 
eastern  trade  through  the  ports  on  the  Red  Sea,  and  over 
land  by  the  way  of  Tadmor  and  Palmyra.     Some  idea  of  its 


JER  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  187 

prodigious  wealth  at  this  time  may  be  formed  from  the  fact, 
that  the  quantity  of  gold  left  by  David  for  the  use  of  the 
temple  amounted  to  the  value  of  one  hundred  millions  of  dol- 
lars, besides  fourteen  millions  in  silver ;  and  Solomon  obtained 
14^  millions  in  gold,  by  one  voyage  to  Ophir,  vv^hile  silver 
was  so  abundant  "  that  it  was  not  any  thing  accounted  of." 
These  were  the  days  of  Jerusalem's  glory,  when  universal 
peace,  unmeasured  wealth,  the  wisdom  and  clemency  of  the 
prince,  and  the  worship  of  the  true  God,  marked  it  above 
every  other  city,  as  enjoying  the  presence  and  the  especial 
favour  of  the  Almighty. 

But  these  days  were  soon  to  have  an  end.  After  the  death 
of  Solomon,  ten  of  the  twelve  tribes  revolted  from  his  suc- 
cessor Rehoboam,  and  established  a  separate  kingdom  under 
Jeroboam,  the  son  of  Nebat ;  so  that  Jerusalem,  no  longer  the 
capital  of  the  v^'hole  empire,  and  its  temple  frequented  by  the 
tribes  of  Judah  and  Benjamin  alone,  must  have  suffered  a 
mournful  declension.  Four  years  after  this,  the  city  and 
temple  were  taken  and  plundered  by  Shishak,  king  of  Egypt 
(1  Kings  xiv.  28.  2  Chron.  xiii.  2.  9.)  One  hundred  and 
forty-five  years  after  this,  in  the  reign  of  Amaziah,  the  city 
was  again  taken  by  Joash,  king  of  Israel.  (2  Kings  xiv. 
2  Chron.  xxv.)  Jerusalem  was  again  taken,  one  hundred  and 
sixty  years  afterwards,  by  Esarhaddon,  king  of  Assyria,  who 
carried  away  Manasseh,  the  king  of  Judah,  a  prisoner  to 
Babylon.  (2  Chron.  xxxiii.)  Within  the  space  of  sixty-six 
years  more,  it  was  taken  by  Pharaoh-Necho,  king  of  Egypt, 
who  killed  king  Josiah  in  a  battle  at  Megiddo.  (2  Kings 
xxiii.  29.)  Jerusalem  was  three  times  besieged  and  taken  by 
Nebuchadnezzar,  kino-  of  Babylon,  within  a  few  years.  The 
first  in  the  reign  of  king  Jehoiakim,  (2  Chron.  xxxvi.  6.)  the 
second  in  the  rei^n  of  his  son  Jehoiachin,  (verse  10.)  and  the 
third  in  the  reign  of  his  successor,  Zedekiah,  (verse  17.) 
This  last  was  the  most  formidable  and  disastrous  siege  which 
Jerusalem  had  ever  experienced.  The  Chaldean  army  enter- 
ed the  city,  took  away  every  thing  that  was  valuable,  and 
then  burnt  and  destroyed  it,  with  its  temple  and  walls,  and 
left  the  whole  razed  to  the  ground.  The  whole  population 
of  the  city  and  comitry,  except  a  fev/  husbandmen,  were  then 
carried  captive  to  Babylon.  2  Kinsfs  xxv.  2  Chron.  xxxvi. 
17.20.  . 

Thus  ended  the  kingdom  of  Judah  ;  and  at  this  time  com- 
mences the  70  years  of  captivity,  foretold  by  Jeremiah.   Dur- 


188  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  JER 

ing  these  70  years,  the  city  and  temple  lay  in  ruins;  when 
some  Jews,  taking  advantage  of  the  proclamation  of  Cyrus, 
returned  to  Jerusalem  under  Zerubbabel,  and  began  to  build 
tlie  temple ;  the  sacred  vessels  belonging  to  which,  that  had 
been  taken  away  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  being  restored  by 
Cyrus.  Not  much  was  done,  however,  being  opposed  by  the 
Samaritans,  (Ezra  iv.  6.)  in  the  reign  of  Cambyses,  the  son  of 
Cyrus,  wlio  is  called  Ahasuerus  in  Scripture;  and  finally 
stopped  by  a  decree  of  Smerdis,  called  in  Scripture  Artaxerxes, 
his  successor.  (Ezra  iv.  7  to  the  end.)  The  temple  con- 
sequently remained  in  an  unfinished  state  until  the  second  or 
third  year  of  Darius  Hystaspes,  who,  having  found  a  copy  of 
the  decree  of  Cyrus  among  the  Median  records  at  Achmetha, 
issued  a  similar  one ;  and  even  ordered  the  opposing  Samari- 
tans to  assist  in  the  work.  The  temple  was  thus  finished  in 
the  sixth  year  of  his  reign.  (Ezra  iv.  v.  vi.)  The  city  and 
walls,  however,  remained  in  a  ruinous  condition  till  the 
twentieth  year  of  Artaxerxes  Longimanus,  who  sent  Nehe- 
miah  to  Jerusalem,  with  power  to  rebuild  the  walls,  which 
was  done,  with  incredible  labour,  notwithstanding  the  hostile 
attacks  of  the  Samaritans,  in  fifty-two  days,  in  the  year  445 
before  Christ ;  after  which  the  city  itself  was  gradually  rebuilt. 
Nehem.  ii.  iv.  vi. 

Jerusalem  remained  attached  to  the  Persian  empire,  but 
under  the  local  jurisdiction  of  the  High  Priests,  until  that 
empire  was  overthrown  by  Alexander,  14  years  after.  This 
extraordinary  conqueror  visited  Jerusalem  himself,  and  not- 
withstanding the  usual  machinations  of  the  Samaritans,  show- 
ed great  favour  to  the  Jews,  and  particularly  to  the  High 
Priests,  granting  them  an  exemption  from  tribute  every  Sab- 
batical year,  At  the  death  of  Alexander,  on  the  division  of 
his  empire  among  his  generals,  Jerusalem,  with  Judea,  fell  to 
the  kings  of  Syria ;  and  in  the  frequent  wars  which  followed 
between  them  and  the  kings  of  Egypt,  belonged  occasionally 
to  both  parties.  This  unsettled  state  introduced  disorder  and 
corruption ;  the  high  priesthood  was  openly  sold  to  tlie  highest 
bidder,  and  numbers  of  the  Jews  deserted  their  religion  for 
the  idolatries  of  the  Greeks.  In  the  year  170  before  Christ, 
Antiochus  Epiphanes,  king  of  Syria,  plundered  the  city,  and 
killed  80,000  of  the  Jews.  He  endeavoured  to  abolish  their 
religion  also,  and  published  an  edict  requiring  all  the  people 
in  his  dominions  to  conform  to  the  religion  of  the  Greeks ;  in 
consequence  of  which  the  service  of  the  temple  ceased,  and  a 


JER  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  199 

statue  of  Jupiter  Olympus  was  set  up  on  the  altar.  This,  as 
mio-ht  have  been  expected,  led  to  rebellion  ;  those  Jews  who 
still  held  their  insulted  religion  in  reverence,  fled  to  the 
mountains  with  Mattathias  and  Judas  Maccabeus;  under  the 
latter  of  whom  they  defeated  the  armies  of  Antiochus,  again 
obtained  possession  of  Jerusalem,  purified  the  temple,  and 
restored  the  service  after  three  years  defilement  by  the 
Gentile  idolatries.  The  succeeding  Maccabees  ruled  as  high 
priests,  without  the  title  of  king ;  having  frequent  contests 
with  the  Syrians,  until,  in  the  year  130  before  Christ,  Hyr- 
canus  rendered  the  Jews  independent.  His  successor,  Judas, 
took  the  title  of  king,  which  continued  with  his  successors  47 
years,  until  the  city  and  temple  were  taken  by  the  Romans 
under  Pompey,  and  Judea  made  a  Roman  province,  in  the 
year  63,  B.  C. 

Jerusalem  did  not  long  after  this  enjoy  the  dignity  of  a 
metropolis  ;  for  Herod,  who  governed  Judea  under  the  Romans 
with  the  title  of  king,  removed  the  seat  of  government  to 
Csesarea,  where  it  was  continued  by  the  succeeding  Roman 
governors.  The  Jews  having  become  turbulent,  and  im- 
patient of  the  Roman  authority,  in  the  year  A.  D.  66,  rose  on 
their  rulers  and  killed  the  Roman  garrison  in  Jerusalem. 
When  this  was  known  at  Rome,  Vespasian  was  appointed  by 
the  emperor  Nero,  governor  of  Syria,  and  general  of  the  army 
destined  to  act  against  Jerusalem.  Having  reduced  the 
greater  part  of  the  country  to  obedience,  he  was  preparing  to 
attack  the  city,  when  his  operations  were  suspended  by  the 
death  of  Nero,  and  the  dissensions  which  followed  in  the 
empire.  Vespasian  himself  having  been  declared  emperor, 
gave  the  command  of  the  army  in  Judea  to  his  son  Titus,  who 
invested  Jerusalem  near  the  time  of  the  Passover,  or  about 
the  beginning  of  April,  in  the  year  70.  At  this  time  of  the 
great  festival  the  city  was  crowded  to  excess,  and  being  torn 
by  different  contending  factions,  and  a  prey  to  civil  war 
within  its  own  walls,  its  downfall  was  hastened  by  its  own 
inhabitants,  who,  instead  of  uniting  against  the  common 
enemy,  mercilessly  destroyed  each  other,  and  made  wanton 
destruction  of  the  provisions  which  might  have  enabled  them 
to  protract  the  defence.  Before  the  termination  of  the  siege 
they  were  reduced  to  such  distress  from  famine,  that,  accord- 
ing to  Josephus,  a  rich  and  noble  lady  w^as  driven  by  hunger 
to  kill  and  eat  her  own  child.  In  order  to  prevent  supplies 
from  being  brought  into  the  city,  as  well  as  to  cut  off  all 


190  SCRIPTURE   rxEOGRAPHY.  JER 

possibility  of  escape,  Titus  surrounded  it  with  a  wall,  which 
was  built  by  the  exertions  of  liis  whole  array  in  three  days. 
The  city  was  finally  taken  by  assault  on  the  17th  day  of  July, 
when  a  dreadful  carnage  followed,  and  the  city  and  temple 
were  burnt  and  razed  to  the  ground.  The  number  of  those  who 
perished  in  this  siege  is  computed  by  Josephus  at  1,100,000, 
besides  many  thousands  killed  in  other  parts  of  the  country 
during  the  same  war. 

After  this,  Jerusalem  lay  in  ruins  about  47  years,  when  the 
emperor  ^lius  Adrian  began  to  build  it  anew ;  erecting  a 
heathen  temple,  which  he  dedicated  to  Jupiter  Capitolinus. 
(See  the  medals  at  the  end  of  this  article.)  The  city  was 
finished  in  the  20th  year  of  his  reign ;  and  was  named  ^Elia 
Capitolina,  from  its  founder,  and  the  heathen  deity  who  pre- 
sided over  it.  The  Jews,  having  again  rebelled,  were  again 
subdued,  and  the  city  once  more  nearly  destroyed ;  it  was, 
however,  restored  by  Adrian,  who,  enraged  at  the  unconquer- 
able spirit  of  the  Jews,  forbade  them  on  pain  of  death  ever  to 
enter  it,  and  to  show  his  detestation  of  them,  he  placed  the 
marble  statue  of  a  hog  over  the  gate  leading  to  Bethlehem. 
Jerusalem  continued  under  the  name  of  iElia,  inhabited  more 
by  Christians  and  Pagans,  than  by  Jews,  till  the  time  of  the 
emperor  Constantino,  who  about  the  year  323  much  irnproved 
the  city,  restored  its  ancient  name,  and  adorned  it  with  many 
new  edifices  and  churches. 

The  emperor  Julian,  commonly  called  the  apostate,  having 
abjured  the  Christian  religion,  and  with  the  avowed  design  of 
defeating  the  prophecies  which  had  declared  that  the  temple 
should  not  be  rebuilt,  invited  the  Jews  to  return  to  the  city, 
promising  to  restore  their  temple  and  nation.  Great  numbers 
of  workmen  were  employed  to  clear  the  foundations ;  but  they 
were  soon  obliged  to  desist  by  balls  of  fire  which  broke  from 
the  earth,  with  earthquakes,  whirlwinds,  and  other  terrific 
and  supernatural  phenomena.  The  truth  of  this  miraculous 
interposition  of  Providence,  is  attested  by  many  credible  wit- 
nesses and  historians,  heathens  and  Jews,  as  well  as  Christians. 

In  the  beginning  of  the  7th  century,  Jerusalem  was  taken 
and  plundered  by  Chosroes,  king  of  Persia,  by  whom  many 
thousands  of  the  Christian  inhabitants  were  killed,  or  sold  for 
slaves.  It  was  soon  retaken  by  the  emperor  Iloraclius,  and 
restored  to  the  Christians;  the  Jews  being  forbidden  to  come 
within  three  miles  of  it.  Not  long  after  this  the  Caliph  Omar, 
the  third  from  Mahomet,  invested  the  city,  which,  after  once 


JER  DICTIONARY   OF   THE    BIfiLE.  191 

more  sufi'ering  the  horrors  of  a  protracted  siege,  surrendered 
on  terms  of  capitulation  in  the  year  637.  Omar  religiously 
observed  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  and  allowed  the  Christians 
the  use  of  their  churches ;  only  requesting  to  be  shown  a  place 
where  he  might  build  a  mosque.  The  patriarch  showed  him 
the  site  of  the  temple,  which,  out  of  hatred  to  the  Jews,  had 
been  used  by  the  Christians  as  a  receptacle  for  the  filth  of  the 
town.  This  was  cleared  away,  and  a  mosque  was  erected 
by  Omar,  which  has  stood  to  the  present  time,  and  is  reckoned 
the  first  in  size  and  magnificence,  and  the  second  in  sanctity, 
of  all  in  the  Mahometan  dominions.  From  the  Saracens  of 
Arabia,  Jerusalem  was  taken  by  the  Turks,  and  again  from 
diem  by  the  Saracens  of  Egypt. 

In  the  year  1099,  it  again  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
Christians,  being  taken  by  the  Crusaders  under  Godfrey  of 
Bouillon,  who  made  a  general  massacre  of  the  inhabitants ; 
70,000  of  whom  were  killed  with  the  sword ;  and  the  Jews, 
equally  the  object  of  the  pious  hatred  of  the  crusaders,  were 
collected  together  and  burnt.  Godfrey  was  chosen  king  of 
Jerusalem,  which  was  held  hj  the  Christians  88  years ;  and 
then  surrendered  to  Saladin,  the  sultan  of  Egypt,  who  per- 
mitted the  Christians  to  ransom  their  lives.  About  40  years 
after  this,  it  was  given  up  to  the  emperor  Frederic  II.,  on  con- 
dition that  the  walls  should  not  be  rebuilt,  and  that  the 
mosques  should  be  reserved  for  the  use  of  the  Mussulmans. 
The  Christians  soon  after  rose  upon  the  Mahometans ;  which 
quickly  brought  the  exasperated  sultan  upon  them,  who  killed 
great  numbers,  and  razed  this  unfortunate  city  once  more  to 
the  ground.  About  50  years  after  this,  the  western  Christians, 
who  had  continued  to  hold  the  maritime  parts  of  Palestine, 
with  Acre  for  their  capital,  were  totally  and  finally  expelled 
from  the  Holy  Land  by  the  sultan  Khalil.  Jerusalem  was 
next  transferred  to  the  Mamelukes,  or  foreign  slaves  and  sol- 
diers of  the  Egyptian  sultans ;  who  had  risen  on  their  masters 
and  usurped  the  government.  The  city  remained  in  their 
possession,  in  a  desolate  and  half-ruined  state,  about  260  years, 
when  the  Mameluke  power  fell  before  that  of  Othman,  or 
Ottoman  Turks,  in  whose  possession  it  has  continued  to  the 
present  time,  a  prey  to  the  tyranny  of  that  nation. 

Jerusalem  in  its  most  flourishing  state,  was  four  miles  and 
a  half  in  circumference,  and  was  divided  into  four  parts,  each 
inclosed  with  its  own  walls. 

Of  the  public  edifices  of  this  city,  the  temple  claims  our 


** 


192  *  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRA.PHY.  JER 

chief  notice.  The  original  temple,  or  that  built  by  Solomon, 
is  particularly  described  in  the  Olu  Testament.  It  was  seven 
years  and  six  months  in  building,  and  was  dedicated  with 
peculiar  solemnity  to  the  worship  of  the  Most  High,  in  the 
year  of  the  world  3001,  before  Christ  1003.  It  retained  its 
original  splendour  only  33  or  34  years  ;  when  Shishak,  king 
of  Egypt,  took  Jerusalem  and  carried  away  the  treasures  of 
the  temple  :  and  after  undergoing  subsequent  profanations  and 
pillage.^,  this  stupendous  building  was  finally  plundered  and 
burnt  by  the  Chaldeans  under  Nebuchadnezzar  in  the  year  of 
the  world  3416.  2  Kings  xxv.  13-15.  2  Chron.  xxxvi.  17-20. 

After  the  captivity,  the  temple  emerged  from  its  ruins, 
being  rebuilt  by  Zerubbabel,  but  with  vastly  inferior  and 
diminished  glory  ;  as  appears  from  the  tears  of  the  aged  men 
who  had  beheld  the  former  structure  in  all  its  grandeur. 
(Ezra  iii.  12.)  The  second  temple  was  profaned  by  Antiochus 
Epiphanes,  B.  C.  163,  who  caused  the  daily  sacrifice  to  be  dis- 
continued, and  erected  the  image  of  Jupiter  Olympus  on  the 
altar  of  burnt-offering.  Three  years  after,  it  was  purified  by 
Judas  Maccabeus,  wdio  restored  the  true  worship  of  Jehovah. 

Some  years  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  the  repairing,  or 
gradual  rebuilding  of  this  second  temple  was  undertaken  by 
Herod,  who  for  nine  years  employed  18,000  workmen  upon 
it,  and  spared  no  expense  in  its  adornment.  The  Jews  con- 
tinued for  some  years  to  ornament  and  enlarge  it;  so  that 
they  might  assert  with  propriety  that  this  temple  had  been 
forty-and-six  years  in  building.    John  ii.  20. 

The  temple  itself,  strictly  so  called,  (which  comprised  the 
portico,  the  sanctuary,  and  the  holy  of  holies,)  formed  only  a 
small  part  of  the  sacred  edifice  on  Mount  Moriah,  being  sur- 
rounded by  spacious  courts,  making  a  square  of  half  a  mile  in 
circumference.  It  was  entered  through  nine  gates,  which 
r/ere  on  every  side  thickly  coated  with  gold  and  silver ;  but 
.here  was  one  ^ate  of  surpassing  beauty,  made  of  Corinthian 
orass,  the  most  precious  metal  in  ancient  times.  It  was  also 
much  larger  than  the  others ;  and  its  ornaments  far  more 
costly  and  massive.  This  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  "  gate 
called  beautiful,"  mentioned  in  Acts  iii.  2.  The  inner  temple, 
or  sanctuary,  was  covered  on  every  side  with  plates  of  gold  ; 
so  that  when  the  sun  rose  upon  it.  it  reflected  so  strong 
and  dazzling  an  effulgence,  that  the  eye  of  the  spectator 
was  obliged  to  turn  away,  being  no  more  able  to  sustain  its 
radiance  than  the  splendour  of  the  sun.     To  strangers  who 


JER  DiCTlON.VRY   OF  THE   BIBLE.  193 

were  approaching-,  it  appeared  at  a  distance  like  a  mountain 
covered  with  snow,  for  where  it  was  not  decorated  with  plates 
of  gold,  it  was  extremely  white  and  glistening.  On  the  top 
it  had  sharp  pointed  spikes  of  gold,  to  prevent  any  bird  from 
resting  upon  it,  and  polluting  it.  There  were  in  this  build- 
ing, stones  which  were  45  cubits  in  length,  5  in  height,  and 
6  in  breadth.  Yet  fully  was  tlie  prediction  of  our  Lord  veri- 
fied ;  for  in  the  short  space  of  about  30  years  after  he  spoke, 
this  most  magnificent  temple,  whicli  the  Jews  had  literally 
turned  into  a  den  of  thieves,  was,  through  the  righteous  judg- 
ment of  God  upon  that  wicked  and  abandoned  nation,  utterly 
destroyed  by  the  Romans,  in  the  same  month,  and  on  the 
same  day  of  the  month,  when  Solomon's  temple  had  been 
razed  to  the  ground  by  the  Babylonians,  657  years  before !  It 
is  said  that  Titus  wished  to  save  the  temple,  and  had  given 
orders  to  that  effect.  But  it  was  necessary  for  the  fulfilment 
of  prophecy,  that  his  orders  should  not  be  obeyed ;  and  a  sol- 
dier, in  the  midst  of  the  horror  and  confusion  of  such  a  time, 
set  fire  to  it ;  when  6000  men,  women,  and  children,  who  had 
been  led  to  seek  security  there  by  the  assurances  of  a  false 
prophet,  perished  in  the  flames,  or  in  attempting  to  leap  from 
the  burning  edifice.  Titus,  himself  afterwards  ordered  the 
very  foundations  to  be  dug  up ;  so  literally  was  the  prediction 
of  our  Saviour  verified,  that  not  one  stone  of  that  stupendous 
pile  should  be  left  standing  on  another.     Mark  xiii.  2. 

The  most  remarkable  antiquities  yet  shown  in  Jerusalem, 
and  its  neighbourhood,  are  the  pools  of  Bethesda  and  Giiion  ; 
the  tomb  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  in  the  valley  of  Jehoshaphat ; 
the  tomb  of  king  Jehoshaphat ;  Absalom's  pillar ;  the  tomb  of 
Zachariah;  and  the  royal  sepulchres,  which  are  evidently  of 
very  great  antiquity,  and  are  cut  out  of  the  solid  rock ;  but  it 
is  not  agreed  what  kings  were  buried  here.  Of  the  church 
of  the  Holy  Sepulchre,  we  have  spoken  in  the  article  Calvary^ 
and  other  interesting  antiquities  of  the  neighbourhood  will 
be  found  described  in  their  proper  places, 

Jerusalem,  called  universally  in  Egypt  and  Syria  El  Kouds, 
the  holy  city,  is  built  upon  high  rocky  ground,  and,  as  seen 
from  Mount  Olivet,  the  modern  city  presents  an  inclined 
plane,  descending  from  west  to  east.  It  is  inclosed  by  a  high 
wall,  fortified  with  towers ;  and  towards  the  west,  and  in  the 
centre  of  the  city,  the  houses  are  numerous  and  closely  built ; 
but  towards  the  east,  large  vacancies  are  observed.  The 
houses  are  mostly  low,  generally  only  one  story  high,  without 
R 


194 


SCRIFl'URE   GEOGRArHY. 


JER 


chimneys,  and  having  flat  roofrf  of  stone,  containing,  cisterns  to 
preserve  the  rain-water,  which  is  collected  for  use,  the  city- 
containing  neither  wells,  fountains,  nor  streams.  The  streets, 
are  narrow  aiid  crooked,  without  pavements,  full  of  loose  stones 
4nd  abrupt  declivities.     The  shops  are  few  and  mean,  indi- 


Plan  of  Jerusalem  and  its  environs. 

A.  Temple  on  Mount  Mori.nh.     B.   Z'on.  or  city  of  David.    C.  Salem, 
the  Lower  Town.    D.  Beznta,  or  the  New  Town. 

eating  the  poverty  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  oppression  of 
their  Turkish  masters.  The  population  of  Jerusalem  is  esti- 
mated to  be :  Mahometans  13,000,  Jews  4000,  and  Christians 
of  various  denominations  3000. 


'JER 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE. 


195 


The  Jews,  the  legitimate  masters  of  Judea,  are  now  as 
slaves  and  strangers  in  their  own  land ;  yet  still  awaiting, 
under  this  most  cruel  and  despotic  gove;rnment,  a  king  who  is 
to  work  their  deliverance.  iSix  times'have  they  witnessed 
the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  yet  still  they  are  not  discouraged 
— still  their  looks  are  turned  upon  Zion,  from  which  nothing 
can  divert  them.  Near  that  temple,  of  which  there  does  not 
remain  one  stone  upon  another,  they  yet  continue  to  dwell ; 
and  while  the  Persians,  the  Greeks,  and  the  Romans,  have 
disappeared  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  this  small  people, 
whose  origin  is  much  more  ancient  than  that  of  these  mighty 
nations,  still  survive  amidst  the  ruins  of  their  country,  with 
no  alteration  of  mamiers,  and  no  mixture  of  foreign  blood. 

The  Christians,  though  also  pillaged  and  oppressed,  and 
their  lives  constantly  in  danger,  yet  linger  around  the  Holy 
Sepulchre,  and  the  scenes  made  sacred  by  the  presence  and 
miracles  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world.  From  the  tomb  of  that 
Saviour,  neitlier  the  menaces  of  death,  nor  indignities,  nor 
robberies  of  every  description,  can  drive  them;  .and  their 
hymns,  and  prayers  resound  night  and  day  about  that  spot 
where  Jesus  Christ  suffered  for  the  salvation  of  man. 
_:  This  city,  though  decayed  and  "trodden  down  by  the  Gen- 
tiles," will  always  be  interesting  to  the  believer  in  revelation. 
Here  his  fpnd,  delighted  imagination  will  be  fixed,  not  only 
on  account  of  the  splendid  scenes'of  Old  Testament  history ;; 
not  only  because  here  the  Son  of  God  accomplished  the  work 
qf  human  redemption  ;  not  only  b-ecause  the  spark  was  here 
kindled  \^ich  shall  enlighten  all  nations  ;'=?:^but  because  here' 
a  constellation  of  prophecies  have  been  fulfilled}^  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  carry  conviction  to  every  candid  and  unpreju- 
diced mind,  of  the  solemn  and  sublime  truths  of  Divine  reve- 
lation. 


196 


SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY. 


JEZ 


No.  1.  This  medal  of  Jerusalem,  proves  the  truth  of  those  histories 
which  inform  us  that  the  city,  after  being  destroyed  by  the  Romans 
under  Titus,  was  rebuilt  by  Hadrian,  and  Ibrmed  into  a  colony.  The 
medal  has  the  head  of  Hadrian  on  one  side ;  on  the  other  a  colonist 
driving  oxen,  which  was  the  usual  type  of  a  colony,  with  a  military 
ensign,  and  the  inscription  col.  ael.'capit.  cond.  implying  that  Ha- 
drian was  the  condilor,  founder,  or  re-establisher  of  the  colony  o{  A^Lia 
CapitoLina,  or  Jerusalem.  This  is  probably  one  of  the  first  medals 
struck  on  this  occasion. 


We  are  told  in  the  life  of  Hadrian  by  Xiphylinus,  that  he  built  a 
temple  to  Jupiter,  in  the  very  spot  where  "the  temple  of  (lod  had  stood ; 
and  he  made  the  Jews  pay  to  this  temple  the  same  contributions  as 
ihey  had  been  accustomed  to  pay  yearly  to  their  temple.  No.  2.  represents 
Jupiter  silting  in  this  temple,  conversing  with  Minerva,  and  attended 
by  the  female  genius  of  the  place,  or  by  Juno. 
_  No.  3.  A  head  of  Serapis.     As  this  deity  was  the  principal  God  of 


Jerusalem, 


No.  4.  Ashtaroth,  or  Astarte,  was  among  the  idc-ls  of  Syria ;  and  this 
medal  proves  that  she  was  also  worshipped  in  Jerusalem,  She  holds  in 


^lOP  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  197 

ner  left  hand  a  staflEj  in  her  right  a  human  head,  and  treads  on.a  figure 
lying  down.  Comm.  on  this  medal,  sigtiifies  Commodiana:  it  is  a  coin 
of  Severus. 

J\o.  5.  A  coin  of  Hostilianus.  with  a  figure  standing,  a  blunt  spear  in 
Ins  right  hand,  and  a  human  head  in  liis  left.  The  caduceus  behind 
mm,  as  well  as  the  general  character,  denotes  this  to  be  Mercury. 

There  were  then  in  Jerusalem  temples  to  Jupiler,  Serapis,  Astarte, 
and  Mercury ;  and,  as  is  shown  by  other  medals,  to  the  Sun,  to  Bac- 
chus, Minerva,  and  Ju7w.  These  profanations  are  surely  proofs  tha 
superstition  and  idolatry  succeeded  the  worship  of  God  in  this  once 
holy  city,  and  that  it  was  indeed  "  trodden  down  by  the  Gentiles." 

Jeshana,  the  name  of  a  place,  (2  Chron,  xiii.  19.)  probably 
the  same,  afterw^ards  called  Zin,  which  Eusebius  and  Jerom 
say  was  seven  miles  north  of  Jericho. 

Jeshimon,  a  place  in  the  tribe  of  Judah.    1  Sam.  xxiii,  24. 

Jethlah,  a  city  of  Dan.  Josh.  xix.  42. 

•  Jezreel,  a  noted  city,  since  called  Esdraelon,  situated  in  a 
plain  or  valley  of  the  same  name,  on  the  borders  of  Manasseh 
and  Issachar.     Josh.  xix.  18.    1  Kings  xviii.  46,  &c. 

Also  a  city  in  Judah.    Josh.  xv.  56.    1  Sara.  xxix.  1. 

Jiphtah,  a  city  of  Judah.    Josh.  xv.  43. 

JiPHTHAH-EL,  a  Valley  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon.  Josh.  xix.  14. 

Jogbeha,  a  city  of  Gad.  Numb,  xxxii.  35. 

JoKDEAM,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  56. 

JoKMEAM,  a  city  of  Ephraim,  given  to  the  Levites.  1  Chron. 
vi.  68. 

JoKNEAM,  a  city  of  Zebulon,  given  to  the  Levites,  (Josh, 
xxi.  34.  xix.  11.)  the  same  as  Jokneam  of  Carmel,  (Josh.  xii. 
22.)  so  called  from  being  near  Mount  Carmel. 

JoKTHEEL,  a  city  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  38.)  Also  a  place 
taken  by  Amaziah,  king  of  Judah,  from  the  Edomites :  sup- 
posed by  Eusebius  and  others  to  be  the  city,  afterwards  called 
Petrea,  the  capital  of  Arabia  Petrea.  The  city,  before  its  cap- 
ture, w^as  called  Selah,  which  W'Ord  means  in  Hebrew  a  rock, 
the  same  as  Petra  in  Greek.     2  Kings  xiv.  7. 

JoppA,  a  sea-port  tow^n  in  the  west  of  Canaan,  lying  near 
the  boundary  between  Dan  and  Ephraim,  south  of  Ccesarea. 
It  was  anciently  tlie  only  port  to  Jerusalem ;  whence  the  ma- 
terials senf  from  Tyre  for  building  the  temple  of  Solomon, 
were  landed  here.  (2  Chron.  ii.  16.)  It  is  avery  ancient  city, 
and  was  formerly  called  Japho,  Josh.  xix.  46.)  being,  accord- 
ing to  tradition,  and  the  fables  of  ancient  authors,  built  before 
the  deluge.  Its  modern  name  is  Jaffa:  it  is  w^ell  fortified,  and 
is  inhabited  by  Turks  and  Arabs,  with  a  mixture  of  Greeks, 
2R 


^m 


198  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  JOR 

Maronites,  and  Armenians.  The  houses  are  small,  and  sur- 
rounded with  ruins  of  ancient  walls  and  towers.  The  Franks, 
Greeks,  and  Armenians,  have  each  of  them  houses  here,  for 
the  reception  of  pilgrims  who  land  at  this  place ;  where  they 
have  to  pay  for  permission  to  visit  the  Holy  Land.  This  money 
js  partly  sent  to  Mecca,  and  partly  to  Constantinople. 

Jaffa  was  laid  waste  in  the  crusades,  and  afterwards  de~ 
stroyed  by  an  earthquake ;  but  it  is  now  somewhat  recovered, 
and  that  part  near  the  sea  is  adorned  with  handsome  houses 
of  stone.  The  town  carries  on  a  considerable  trade  in  soap 
and  rice,  and  has  a  population  of  about  1500.  It  was  taken 
by  the  French  army  of  Egypt,  under  Bonaparte,  in  1797,  and 
retained  forty  days. 

Jordan,  the  largest  and  most  celebrated  river  in  the  Land 
of  Canaan,  and  very  frequently  mentioned  in  Scripture.  It 
rises  in  the  mountains  of  Lebanon,  in  the  northern  extremity 
of  Canaan,  and  after  running  16  or  18  miles,  spreads  out  in  a 
flat  marshy  place,  forming  tlie  lake  Semechon,  called  in  Scrip- 
ture the  waters  of  Merom.  After  leaving  this  lake,  and  run- 
ning about  15  miles  fui  ther,  it  enters  the  sea  of  Galilee,  or 
Tiberias,  from  the  southern  end  of  which  it  again  issues,  and 
after  a  course,  still  south,  of  about  150  miles  further,  it  final- 
ly empties  into  the  Dead  Sea. 

Below  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  the  river  is  generally  20  or  30 
yards  wide,  and  is  described  by  travellers  to  be  deep  and 
rapid.  The  water  is  turbid,  but  wholesome.  On  both  sides 
along  the  Jordan,  there  is  a  great  plain  or  valley,  which  ex- 
tends from  the  Sea  of  Galilee  to  the  Dead  Sea.  Josephus 
says  this  plain  is  150  miles  long,  and  15  wide.  Though  this 
river  anciently  overflowed  its  banks  in  the  spring,  when  the 
snows  were  melting  on  Mount  Lebanon,  yet  it  seems  evident, 
from  the  accounts  of  modern  travellers,  that  these  floods  are 
now  less,  and  more  rare.  This  may  have  arisen,  in  some 
measure,  from  the  channel  having  worn  deeper.  The  banks 
of  the  river  are  in  many  places  covered  with  trees  and  reeds, 
under  which  the  lions  and  other  wild  beasts  iiide ;  and  from 
whence  they  are  driven  by  the  rise  of  the  waters.  There  is 
an  allusion  to  this,  in  Jer.  xlix.  19. 

The  regular  passages  over  Jordan  were,  1.  Jacob's  bridge, 
between  lakes  Semechon  and  Gcnnesarcth ;  a  stone  bridge, 
with  three  arches,  supposed  to  be  more  ancient  than  the  daya 
of  that  patriarch.  2.  A  bridge  at  the  issue  of  the  river  from 
the  Lake  of  Gennesareth.    3.  Bethabara,  rather  a  ferry  than 


'.fJv 


JUD  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  199 

a  bridge.  (2  Sam.  xix.  18.)  It  is  also  probable  there  was  an- 
other at  Bethshan,  or  Scythopolis. 

JoTBAH,  a  city  of  Jadah,  the  native  place  of  the  mother  of 
Amon,  king  of  Judah.     2  Kings  xxi.  19. 

JoTBATHAH,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites,  between 
Horhagidgad  and  Ebronah.     Numb,  xxxiii.  33. 

Judah,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.     See  Part  I.  p 

JuDEA ;  this  name  was  originally  applied  only  to  the  terri- 
tory belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Judah ;  but  after  the  revolt  of 
the  ten  tribes,  under  Rehoboam,  when  Judah  and  Benjamin 
were  united  in  the  same  government,  the  name  of  Judah  or 
Judea  was  applied  to  both  territories.  Afterwards,  when  the 
ten  tribes  had  been  carried  into  captivity,  and  Judah  seemed 
of  course  to  possess  tlie  vacant  territories  of  Simeon,  and 
Dan,  all  the  southern  part  of  the  country  was  called  Judea. 
Finally,  after  the  captivity  and  return  of  Judah  fi'om  Babylon, 
the  name  was  extended  to  nearly  the  whole  of  the  Holy  Land ; 
and  is  used  at  present,  something  like  the  term  Palestine,  in- 
definitely denoting  either  Judea  proper,  or  the  whole  of  the 
country  formerly  inhabited  by  the  Jews. 

We  have  given  in  Part  I.  and  under  the  article  Canaan, 
an  account  of  the  situation  and  boundaries  of  this  country,  as 
well  as  its  general  history  up  to  the  tmie  of  its  division 
among  the  tw^elve  tribes  under  Joshua.  This  division,  the  whole 
being  united  under  one  government,  continued  during  the 
times  of  the  judges  and  kings,  a  period  of  475  years ;  until 
the  revolt  of  ten  of  the  twelve  tribes  from  the  authority  of 
Rehoboam,  and  the  establishment  of  a  separate  Idngdom 
under  Jeroboam.  From  this  time  Judea  was  divided  into  two 
kingdoms :  that  of  Judah,  consisting  of  the  tribes  of  Judah 
and  Benjamin,  in  the  southern  part,  of  which  Jerusalem  was 
the  capital ;  and  that  of  Israel,  consisting  of  all  the  other 
tribes,  in  the  middle  and  north,  of  which  Samaria  (after  the 
time  of  Omri,  the  sixth  king)  was  the  capital.  The  two 
kingdoms  existed  together  about  250  years ;  when  in  the  year 
721  before  Christ,  Samaria  w^as  taken,  after  a  siege  of  three 
years,  by  Salmaneser,  and  most  of  the  Israelites,  who  had 
escaped  slaughter,  were  carried  captive  into  Assyria.  The 
kingdom  of  Judah  continued  133  years  longer ;  when  Jerusa- 
lem was  taken  by  Nebuchadnezzar,  588  B.  C.,  the  temple 
burnt,  and  Zedekiah  the  king,  with  the  greater  number  of  his 
subjects,  were  carried  m  captivity  to  Babylon. 


200  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  JUB 

Judea  now  remained  a  desolate  appendage,  of  the  Bay  Ionian 
empire,  until  the  •subversion  of  that  power  by  Cyrus  of  Per- 
sia, 537  B.  C,  who,  in  the  iirst  year  of  his  reign,  issued  an 
edict,  empowering  the  Jews  to  return  to  their  own  country 
to  rebuild  their  city  and  temple,  and  to  live  once  more  under 
their  own  religion  and  laws.  In  the  following  year,  part  of 
the  Jews  returned  under  Zerubbabel,  and  renewed  their  sac- 
rifices ;  but  the  building  of  the  city  and  temple,  was  for  several 
years  interrupted  by  the  treachery  of  the  Samaritans.  This 
people,  made  up  of  the  eastern  colonies  which  Esarhaddon 
had  transplanted  into  the  vacant  cities  of  Israel,  livmg  under 
Assyrian  or  Persian  governors,  and  who  had  engrafted  Juda- 
ism upon  Paganism,  conceived  a  deadly  hatred  to  the  Jews ; 
which  was  heightened  in  the  present  instance  by  a  jealousy 
of  the  political  existence  of  the  Jews  so  near  them.  They 
accordingly  used  every  means  of  opposition  in  tlieir  power ; 
but  by  the  prudence  of  the  Jewish  rulers,  and  the  favour  of 
Darius  Hystaspes,  who  saw  through  the  misrepresentation 
and  craft  of  the  Samaritans,  all  opposition  was  surmounted ; 
and  the  Samaritans  were  punished  by  being  made  to  serve 
the  very  people  they  had  endeavoured  to  supplant.  The  tem- 
ple was  completed  26  years  after  the  decree  of  Cyrus :  but 
the  Jews  had  yet  but  partially  returned,  and  their  affairs  were 
in  a  very  unsettled' state,  until  the  year  458  B.  C,  when  Ezra, 
and  afterwards  Nehemiah,  were  sent  by  Artaxerxes  as  gov- 
ernors of  the  Jews;  and  under  whom  the  walls  of  Jerusalem 
were  rebuilt,  and  the  affairs  of  both  church  and  state,  happily 
settled. 

From  this  time  the  Jews  enjoyed,  during  a  period  of  near 
300  years,  almost  uninterrupted  prosperity  ; — governed  by 
their  high  priests,  although  subject  to  the  kings  of  Persia, 
until  the  overthrow  of  that  empire  by  Alexander.  They  were 
afterwards  subject  to  the  kings  of  Syria,  until  Antiochus  Epi- 
phanes  commenced  his  persecutions  against  them;  when, 
under  the  conduct  of  Mattathias  and  his  son  Judas,  surnamed 
Maccabeus,  they  took  up  arms  against  their  oppressors ;  and 
after  a  religious  war  of  26  years,  with  five  successive 
kings  of  Syria,  they  succeeded  in  establishing  the  indepen- 
dence of  tlieir  country,  and  the  sovereignty  of  the  family 
of  Mattathias.  The  princes  of  this  family,  generally  called 
Asmoneans,  from  Asmoneus  the  father  of  Mattathias,  united 
the  royal  and  priestly  dignity  in  their  own  persons,  and 
administered  the   affairs  of  the  Jews  during  a  period  of 


JUD  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  201 

126  years,  until  a  dispute  arising  between  Hyrcanus  II.  and 
his  brother  Aristobuhis,  the  Romans,  under  Pcmpey,  seized 
the  opportunity  of  reducing-  Judea  to  the  condition  of  a  pro- 
vince of  the  empire.  Julius  Csesar,  having  defeated  Pompey, 
continued  Hyrcanus  in  the  high  priesthood ;  but  made  Anti- 
pater,  an  Idumean,  prefect  or  governor  of  Judea.  Antipater, 
at  his  death,  divided  the  country  between  his  two  sons,  Pha- 
sael  and  Herod  ;  giving  to  the  former  the  government  of 
Jerusalem  and  Judea  proper,  and  to  the  latter  that  of  Galilee. 
Shortly  after,  Judea  was  mvaded  by  the  Parthians,  then  rising 
into  a  formidable  power,  and  contending  with  the  Romans  for 
the  empire  of  the  east.  Both  Hyrcanus  and  Phasael  were 
taken  prisoners  by  this  people ;  but  Herod,  having  escaped, 
went  to  Rome,  where  he  was  made  by  Mark  Antony,  with 
the  consent  of  the  senate,  sole  ruler  of  Judea,  including  Gal- 
ilee, with  the  title  of  king.  During  his  long  reign,  Judea 
rose  into  some  degree  of  importance;  but  the  people  groaned 
under  the  most  arbitrary  despotism.  He  adorned  the  princi- 
pal towns  with  magnificent  buildings,  and  his  treasures  were 
lavished  with  much  show  of  liberality ;  but  this  was  at  the 
expense  of  his  wretched  subjects,  whose  lives  and  fortunes 
were  at  his  disposal.  After  enduring  this  oppression  37  years, 
they  were  released  by  the  death  of  this  tyrant,  who  has  been 
misnamed  the  Great. 

It  was  during  the  reign  of  Herod,  that  our  Saviour,  Jesus 
Christ,  was  born  at  Bethlehem ;  his  parents  having  gone 
thither  from  Nazareth  to  be  taxed,  that  is,  to  be  enrolled  in 
the  general  census  for  the  payment  of  a  capitation  tax ;  ac- 
cording to  a  law  instituted  by  Servius  Tullius,  the  sixth  king 
of  Rome,  which  required  an  enrolment  of  every  inhabitant 
of  the  empire,  with  their  quality,  employment,  wives,  chil- 
dren and  estates.  Herod,  hearing  of  the  extraordinary  birth 
at  Bethlehem,  and  knowing  that  the  Jevv-s  expected  a  de- 
liverer about  this  time,  felt  jealous  or  apprehensive  of  the 
security  of  his  throne,  and  issued  a  decree  for  the  indiscrimi- 
nate slaughter  of  the  whole  infant  population  of  Bethlehem ; 
not  doubting  that  the  expected  prince  of  the  Jews  would  fall 
in  the  general  massacre.  But  our  Lord  w^as  preserved  by  the 
flight  of  his  parents  into  Egypt,  Avhere  they  remained  until 
the  death  of  the  king. 

The  dominions  of  Herod  w^ere  divided  among  his  three 
sons,  Archelaus,  Antipas,  and  Philip.  To  Archelaus,  he  left 
Judea,  Samaria,  and  Idumea,  with  the  title  of  king ;  to  Anti- 


202  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRlPHY.  JUF/ 

pas,  Galilee  and  Perea,  with  the  title  of  tetrarch ;  and  to 
Philip,  Trachonitis,  Gh,ulonitis,  and  Batanea,  also  with  the 
title  of  tetrarch.  The  reign  of  Archelaus  was  turbulent ; 
and  was  troublesome  to  the  Romans  from  frequent  insurrec- 
tion of  the  Jews ;  at  length  complaints  having  been  made 
against  him  of  mal-administration,  he  was  deposed  and  ban- 
ished by  the  Romans;  his  territories  being  annexed  to  the 
province  of"  Syria.  It  was  Antipas,  the  tetrarcli  of  Galilee, 
surnamed  Herod  after  his  father,  who  'beheaded  John  the 
Baptist  to  please  the  wife  of  his  ^brother  Philip,  whom  he  had 
married,  and  for  which  unlawful  and  incestuous  connexion, 
the  intrepid  Baptist  had  boldly  reproached  him.  It  was  this 
Herod,  also,  who  laid  snares  for  our  Saviour,  (Luke-  xiii.) 
He  was  afterwards  banished  by  the  Romans  for  aspiring  to 
the  regal  dignity.  After  this  the  government  of  Judea  and 
■some  of  the  adjoining"  provinces  was*  given  to  Agrippa  the 
elder,  or  Herod  Agrippa,  wlio  was  a^son  of  Aristobulus,  the 
son  of  Herod  the  Great.  This  Herod  Agrippa  became  sole 
king  of  the  Jews,  and  reigned  over  a  greater  extent  of  terri- 
tory than  his  grandfather,  Herod  the.  Great,  ha,d  done.  He 
died  at  Cassarea  in  the  manner  related  in  Acts  xii.  (which  is 
ednfirmed  by  Joseplius)  in  the  seventh-.'year  of  Jiis  reign. 
This  is  the- Agrippa,  or  "  Herod  the  king"  as  he  is  called  in 
the  same  chapter,  who  put  to  death  the  apostle  James,  and 
.'ntended  that  of  Peter.  It  was  before  the  younger  Agrippa, 
son  of  the  preceding  Herod  Agrippa,  that  St.  Paul  delivered 
his  eloquent  defence,  whiclT-alnfest  ^rsuaded  the  king  to  be- 
come a  CJiristian.  (Acts  x>:vi.)  He  was  king  only  of  some 
of  the  nortliern  and  eastern  provinces;'  the  rest  of  Judea  re- 
maining still  under  the  government  of  the  Roman  procurator. 
It  was  governed  only  for  a  short  time  by  Herod  Agrippa,  who 
took  the  administration  of -affairs  upon  the  recall  to  Rome, 
and  subsequent  banishment  of  Pontius  Pilate.  The  next 
procurator  or  governor  after  this  Agrippa,  was  Antonius  Fe- 
lix, before  whom  Paul  spoke,  (Acts  xxiv.);  and  who  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Porcius  Festus,  before  whom  Paul  (whose  cause 
had  been  left  undecided  by  Felix)  again  defended  himself. 
The  younger  Agrippa  was  present  at  this  defence,  and  joined 
Festus  in  declaring  that  he  had  done  nothing  worthy  of 
death  or  of  bonds.  (Acts  xxv.)  Festus  died  in  Judea,  about 
A.  D.  62,  and  was  succeeded  by  Albinus.  After  him  came 
Gessius  Florus,  a  cruel  and  avaricious  governor,  under  whose 
paal-administration  the  Jews,  driven  to  desperation,  took  up 


JUD  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  208 

arms  against  the  Romans,  and  commenced  that  war  which 
terminated  in  tlie  destruction' of  Jerusalem  by  Titus,  and  the 
extinction  of  their  own  existence  as  a  nation,  in  the  year  70, 
A.  D.       • 

To  these  events — the  destruction  of  Jerusalem,  the  final 
subversion  of  the  Jewish  nation,  the  dispersion  of  the  people, 
and  the  long-continued  devastation  of  the  land  which  v/as  to 
follow — so  many  well-known  prophecies  relate;  that  it  must 
de  quite  unnecessary  to  cite  theih. 

From  the  time  of  its  last  invasion  by  the  Romans,  Judea, 
inhabited  almost  entirely  by  Christians  and  Pag-ans,  continued 
a  part  of  the  Roman  empire  until  the  year  637 ;  when  the 
Saracens,  under  their  caliph  Omar,  having  rapidly  overrun 
the.  greater  part  of  th^  east,  invaded  Judea,  and  held  it  till 
1079,  when  they  were  driven  out  by  the  Seljukian  Turks ; 
who  in  their  turn  were  expelled  by  the  armies  of  the  Crusa- 
ders, who,  assembling  in  countless  numbers  from  almost  every 
nation  in  Europe,  soon  overspread  the  country,  and  converted 
it  from  a  Mahometan  to  a  Christian  state,  with  a  king  at  its 
head,  the  first  of  whom  was  Godfrey  of  Bouillon.  The  Cru- 
saders held  possession  of  Judea  about  90  years,  from  1099  to 
1188 ;  during  which  time  a  regular  church  establishment  was 
instituted,  consisting  of  a  patriarch,  with  many  archbishops; 
and  priories,  abbeys,  convents  and  nunneries,  of  different 
orders,  without  number.  These  different  religious  establish- 
ments were  rich  in  the  possession  of  extensive  lands,  castles, 
and  towns ;  and  furnished  7000  troops  for  the  defence  of  the 
state.  Saladin,  the  sultan  of  Egypt,  overthrew  this  Christian 
government,  and  annexed  Judea  to  his  empire,  in  which  state 
it  was  held  by  his  successors  about  50  years ;  when  it  was 
wrested  from  them,  together  with  Egypt,  by  their  own  foreign 
slaves,  the  Mamelukes ;  who  retained  it  till  the  year  1517, 
when  it  was  seized  by  the  Ottoman  Turks,  under  whose 
despotic  sway,  in  darkness  and  desolation,  it  remains  at  the 
present  day. 

Such  is  a  brief  outline  of  the  history  of  this  once  favoured 
country  :  and  who  can  contemplate  its  present  condition — its 
cities  in  ruins;  its  fields  lying  waste  ;  its  ports  deserted  ;  its 
roads,  bridges,  and  fountains  broken  up  and  destroyed ;  its 
inhabitants  few  and  wretched,  deprived  alike  of  every  source 
of  knowledge  and  enjoyment,  and  stripped  by  the  extortions 
of  a  rapacious  government  and  the  plunder  of  the  Arabs ; 
property  insecure ;  and  labour  useless  — v/ho  can  contemplate 


204  SCEiFTURE  G230GRAPHY.  JUD 

all  this  without  feeling  a  deep  conviction  of  the  truth  of  tne 
prophetic  denunciations,  so  frequent  in  Scripture,  against  this 
land;  once  so  peculiarly  favoured  by  the  divine  protection] 

The  ancient  Jews  seem  to  have  been  almost  exclusively  a 
pastoral  people,  a  nation  of  farmers  and  shepherds  ;  their  pa- 
triarchs, lawgivers,  judges,  kings,  warriors,  prophets, — were 
all,  at  different  times,  tillers  of  the  ground  and  keepers  of 
flocks ;  and  suffered  no  degradation  from  their  station  as  hus- 
bandmen. In  the  patriarchal  ages,  and  long  after,  throughout 
the  eastern  world,  as  in  Arabia  at  the  present  day,  the  pasto- 
ral life  was  the  most  honourable,  and  wealth  and  rank  were 
estimated  by  the  amount  of  flocks  and  herds.  Even  the  fe- 
males of  rank  thought  it  no  disgrace  to  be  similarly  employed ; 
and  the  daughters  of  Bethuel,  of  Labjy;i,  and  of  Jethro,  were 
found  tending  their  fathers'  flocks.  In  such  a  state  of  society, 
the  distinctions  of  rank  must  have  been  fewer  and  less  dis- 
propoitioned  than  in  modern  civilized  nations.  There  were 
no  idle  people  living  on  the  sweat  of  the  hrow  of  their  fellow- 
men,  and  looking  down  with  scorn  on  those  whom  Providence 
especially  honours  by  making  them  useful  in  their  generation. 

The  face  of  the  country  in  Judea  is  beautifully  diversified 
with  hills  and  plains — hills  now  barren  and  gloomy,  but  once 
cultivated  to  their  summits  and  srniling  in  the  variety  of  their 
produce,  chiefly  the  olive  and  the  vine ;  and  plains,  over 
which  the  Arab  now  roves  to  collect  a  scanty  herbage  for  his 
cattle,  but  once  yielding  an  abundance  of  which  the  inhabit- 
ants of  a  northern  climate  can  form  no  idea.  Rich  in  its 
soil,  glowing  in  the  sunshine  of  an  almost  perpetual  summer ; 
and  abounding  in  scenery  of  the  grandest  and  most  beautiful 
kind ;  this  happy  country  was  indeed  a  land  which  the  Lord 
had  blessed :  but  Mahometan  sloth  and  despotism,  as  the  in- 
struments employed  to  execute  the  curse  of  heaven,  have 
converted  it  into  a  waste  of  rock  and  desert,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  some  few  spots  which  remain  to  attest  the  veracity 
of  the  accounts  formerly  given  of  it. 

The  hills  of  Judea  frequently  rise  into  mountains ;  the  most 
considerable  of  which  are  those  of  Lebanon  and  Hermon,  on 
the  north ;  but  those  which  surround  the  sea  of  Galilee  and 
the  Dead  Sea  are  also  of  considerable  elevation.  The  other 
mountains  of  note  arc  Carmcl,  Tabor,  Ebal,  and  Gerizim ; 
with  the  mountains  of  Gilboa,  Gilead,  and  Abarim;  with  the 
summits  of  tlic  latter,  Ncbo  and  Pisgah ;  a  description  of 
which  will  be  found  under  their  respective  heads.    Many  of 


JUl)  DICTIOiNARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  205 

the  hills  and  rocl«  abound  with  caverns — the  refuge  of  the 
distressed,  or  the  resorts  of  robbers. 

Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  rain  in  Judea,  and  the  heat  and 
dryness  of  the  atmosphere,  there  are  but  few  rivers ;  and  as 
these  all  rise  within  its  boundaries,  their  course  is  short,  and 
their  size  inconsiderable.  The  principal  is  the  Jordan  :  the 
other  remarkable  streams  are,  the  Arnon,  Jabbok,  Kishon, 
Kedron,  Besor,  Sorek,  and  the  stream  called  the  river  of 
Eg-ypt.  For  a  description,  the  reader  is  referred  to  these 
articles. 

This  country  was  once  adorned  with  woods  and  forests ;  as 
we  read  of  the  forest  of  cedars  in  Lebanon ;  the  forest  of 
oaks  in  Bashan ;  the  forest  or  wood  of  Ephrairn,  &c.  Of  these 
the  woods  of  Bashan  alone  remain  as  described  by  travellers ; 
the  rest  have  been  swept  away  by  the  ravages  of  time  and 
of  armies,  and  by  the  gradual  consumption  of  the  inhabitants, 
whose  indolence  and  ignorance  have  prevented  their  preserv- 
ing the  trees  or  plantmg  others. 

Wildernesses  or  deserts  are  frequently  mentioned  in  the 
sacred  writings.  Of  these  there  are  but  few  in  Judea,  which 
must  not  be  compared  with  the  extensive  wastes  of  Arabia 
and  Africa ;  they  are  of  small  extent,  and  consist  of  unculti- 
vated tracts,  either  mountainous  and  rocky,  or  plain  and 
sandy.  Those  in  this  country  are,  the  wilderness  of  Ziph, 
of  Tekoa,  of  Kedemoth,  and  of  Judea. 

Judea,  under  its  present  governments,  is  divided  into  pasha- 
licks,  or  districts,  each  governed  by  its  pasha,  or  petty  prince, 
subject  to  the  Turkish  sultan  or  emperor.  Of  these  districts 
there  are  three :  Acre  and  Gaza,  on  the  coast,  of  which  the 
latter  is  the  chief,  and  may  be  said  to  include  the  former ;  and 
that  of  Damascus  on  the  east,  including  Jerusalem,  Hebron, 
Naplous,  and  Tiberias:  the  pasha  of  Damascus  holding  the 
pashalick  of  Aleppo,  is,  in  fact,  the  viceroy  of  Syria. 

Lately  the  pasha  of  Egypt,  having  revolted  from  the  sul- 
tan, has  obtained  possession  of  this  country ;  but  what  may 
be  its  future  destiny,  considering  the  present  disturbed  state 
of  the  Turkish  empire,  must  be  left  to  conjecture. 

The  present  inhabitants  of  Judea  consist  of  a  mixed  popula- 
tion of  Turks,  Syrians,  Arabs ;  Latin,  Greek,  and  Armenian 
Christians;  Copts,  Druses,  and  Jews.  Of  these  the  poor  Jews 
form  but  a  small  proportion,  and  live  in  obscurity  and  retire- 
ment ;  compelled  to  use  every  art  to  escape  the  tyranny  and 
rapacity  of  their  ferocious  rulers. 


206 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


JTJD 


No.  1.  A  medal  representing  ihe  davghler  of  Zion,  by  which  figure 
the  Hebrew  poets  and  prophets  personified  their  coinitry,  silling  under 
a  pahn  tree,  in  a  mournful  attitude ;  accompanied  by  a  prisoner  wliose 
hands  arc  tied  behind  him.  This  captive  figure  may  represent  the 
nation  of  ihe  Jews,  or  one  of  their  chiefs.  Inscription  Jud.€:a  capta, 
Jiidca  vanquished,  or  conquered.  This  may  remind  us  of  the  captives 
in  Babylon  who  "  sat  down  and  wept ;"  but  what  is  more  remarkable, 
we  find  Jndea  represented  as  a  woman  in  sorrow,  sitting  on  the  ground, 
in  a  passage  of  the  prophet  which  foretells  the  very  captivity  recorded 
on  these  medals. 

No  2.  has  on  one  side  of  the  palm  tree,  a  collection  of  arms  and 
standards;  and  on  the  other,  the  daughter  of  Zion,  weeping  as  before, 
and  addressing  the  conqueror,  vicisti  c.esar,  ihou  hasl  conquered 
CcEsar  ! 


No  a 


No.  3.  The  side  represents  Victory,  inscribing  on  a  sliield  the  tri- 
umph of  the  Romans,-  she  tramples,  at  the  same  time,  on  a  battered  liel- 
met.  Motto  Victoria  Augusti,  the  victory  of  At'guslus.  The  second 
represents  a  warrior  holding  a  blunt  spear,  a  sheathed  sword,  and 


KAR 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE. 


201 


trampling  on  a  helmet.  This  denotes  peace  procured  at  the  expense  of 
tlie  \anqiiished,  whom  we  see  depicted  by  the  figure  of  a  Avoman 
weeping,  imder  a  palm  tree. 


No.  4.  The  head  is  Vespasian  ;  the  reverse  represents  Peace  holding 
up  an.  olive  branch,  and  burnnig  the  implements  of  war  before  an 
altar;  behind  her  is  a  column,  importing  a  trophy  of  success.  After 
the  conclusion  of  the  Jewish  v,ar,  this  emperor  built  a  temple  to  Peace, 
in  which  he  deposited  the  spoils  of  Judea,  after  having  carried  tnem 
in  triumph. 

Judea,  loildcrness  of:  a  neglected  tract  of  country,  lying 
along-  both  sides  of  the  Jordan,  and  perhaps  the  Dead  Sea. 
It  was  called  a  wilderness,  not  because  it  was  absolutely  un- 
inhabited ;  but  because  it  was  less  populous  than  the  other 
parts  of  the  country.  Here  John  the  Baptist  first  taught, 
and  Christ  was  tempted.    Matt.  iii.  1.  Mark  i.  4.  13. 


Kabzeel,  a  city  of  Judah,  near  the  south-western  shore  of 
the  Dead  Sea,  (Josh.  xv.  21.)  and  was  the  native  place  of 
Benaiah,  one  of  David's  niighty  men.    2  Sam  xxiii.  20. 

Kadesii  ;    See  Part  I.  p.  47. 

KadmojvItes,  an  ancietit  people  of  Canaan.  /See  Parti. 
p.  33. 

Kanah,  a  brook  on  the  border  of  Ephraim  and  Manasseh. 
(Josh.  xvi.  8.  xvii.  9.)    Also  a  city  of  x\sher.  Josh.  xix.  28. 

Karkaa,  a  place  in  the  border  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  Josh. 
XV.  3. 

Kareor,  a  town  in  the  tribe  of  Gad,  near  the  head  of  the 
Arnon.    Judges  viii.  10. 


208  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  KID 

Kartah,  a  city  of  Zebulon,  given  to  the  Levites.  JosL 
xxi.  34. 

Kartan,  a  city  of  Naplitali,  given  to  the  Levites,  (Josh, 
xxi.  32.)  probably  the  same  as  Kiriuthaim.     1  Chron.  vi.  76. 

Kattath,  a  town  of  Zebulon,  (Josh.  xix.  15.)  called  Kilron 
Judges  i.  30. 

Kedar,  a  district  in  the  north  of  Arabia  Felix,  so  called 
from  Kedar,  the  son  of  Ishmael.  (Gen.  xxv.  13.)  The  peo- 
ple dwelt  in  tents,  (Psalm  cxx.)  were  rich  in  cattle,  (Isa.  Ix. 
7.)  of  a  swarthy  complexion,  (!^ng  i.  5.)  and  excellent 
archers.    Isa.  xxi.  17. 

Pi^EDEMOTH,  a  city  of  Reuben,  near  the  river  Arnon,  from 
which  the  wilderness  of  Kedemoth  probably  received  its 
name,  lying  near  it.     Josh.  xiii.  18.  Deut.  ii.  26. 

Kedesh,  a  city  of  Naphtali,  (Josh.  xix.  37.)  given  to  the 
Levites,  (xxi.  32.)  and  a  city  of  refuge,  (xx,  7.)  It  is  fre- 
quently called  in  Scripture  Ivedcsh-Naphtali,  to  distinguish  it 
from  another  place  of  the  same  name  in  the  tribe  of  Judah. 
It  was  situated  in  the  east  of  Naphtali,  20  miles  from  Tyre ; 
and  is  called  Kadcsa  by  Josephus,  and  Kedes  in  the  Greek  of 
Tobit  i.  2. 

Kedesh  was  also  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  23.)  but  it  seems 
never  to  have  been  a  place  of  much  note.  There  was  also 
a  place  of  this  name  in  Issachar,-  (1  Chron.  vi.  72.)  probably 
the  same  called  Kishion.  Josh.  xix.  20. 

Kedron,  a  brook.    See  Kidron.  •  .        • 

Kehalathah,  an' encampment  of  Israel  in  the  wilderness. 
Numb,  xxxiii.  22. 

Keilah,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  44.)  eight  miles  north- 
west of  Hebron.  It  was  still  a  place  of  some  note  in  the 
fourth  century ;  and  it  is  said  that  the  tomb  of  Habakkuk,  the 
prophet,  was  shown  there.    1  Sam.  xxiii.  1.    1  Chron.  iv.  19. 

Kenath,  a  town  of  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan.  Numb, 
xxxii.  42. 

Kemtes,  and  Kenizites,  people  of  Canaan.  See  Part  L 
p.  33. 

Keziz,  a  valley  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.    Josh,  xviii.  21. 

KiBROTH-iiATTAAVAit,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in 
the  wilderness.     See  Purt  I.  p.  46. 

KiBZAiM,  a  city  of  Ephraim.  Josh.  xxi.  22. 

KiDRON,  a  brook  running  through  the  valley  of  Jehosha- 

Shat,  on  the  east  of  Jerusalem,  between  the  city  and  the 
lount  of  Olives.     Xhis  brook  has  but  a  small  quantity  of 


KiS  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  209 

water,  and  is  often  quite  dry ;  but  upon  sudden  and  heavy 
rains  it  swells  and  runs  with  great  rapidity.  It  was  thus  of 
singular  service  to  the  city,  as  it  received  the  contents  of  the 
common  sewers,  and  upon  every  such  flood  carried  them  off 
into  the  Dead  Sea.  Not  only  the  blood  poured  at  the  foot  of 
the  altar  in  the  temple,  but  the  iilth  from  the  sacrifices,  waj 
carried  by  a  drain  into  this  brook. 

KiLMAD,  supposed  to  be  a  city  of  Media.     Ezek.  xxvii.  23. 

KiNAH,  a  city  of  Judah.    Josh.  xv.  22. 

Kir,  a  city  of  Assyria  or  Media,  to  which  the  people  of 
Damascus  were  carried  captive  by  Tiglath-Pileser.  2  Kings 
xvi.  9. 

KiR-HERES,  the  capital  of  Moab,  the  same  as  Rabbath- 
Moab  and  iVr.  This  place  was  ravaged  by  tlie  Assyrians  and 
Chaldeans.    Isa.  xv.  1.  Jer.  xlviii.  31.  36. 

KiRjATH,  or  Kiriath,  the  Hebrew  word  which  signifies  a 
city  ;  whence  we  so  frequently  find  it  in  the  names  of  places. 
There  was  a  town  of  this  name  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin. 
Josh,  xviii.  28. 

KiRJATHAiM,  a  city  of  Moab,  given  to  the  tribe  of  Reuben. 
Numb,  xxxii.  37.   Josh.  xiii.  19. 

Also  a  city  of  Naphtali,  (1  Chron.  vi.  76.)  thought  to  be 
the  same  as  Kartan.  Josh.  xxi.  32. 

KiRjATH-ARBA,  the  aucieut  name  of  Hebron.  See  Part  I. 
p,  32. 

KiRjATH-BAAL,  a  city  of  Judah,  called  also  Kirjath-jearim. 
Josh.  XV.  60. 

KiRJATn-HuzoTH,  the  royal  city  of  Balak,  king  of  Moab. 
Numb.  xxii.  39. 

KiRjATH-JEARi:\i,  a  city  of  the  Gibeonites,  (Josh.  ix.  17.) 
called  also  Ivirjath-baal,  and  Baalath:  given  to  Judah,  and 
afterwards  to  Dan.  Josh.  xv.  60.  xix.  44.    See  Part  I.  p.  56. 

KiRJATH-SEPHER,  Kivjatli-sanna,  or  Debir,  a  city  of  Judah. 
See  Part  I.  p.  57. 

KiSHiON,  a  city  of  Issachar,  given  to  the  Levites.  Josh. 
XIX,  20.  xxi.  28. 

KiSHON,  a  brook  or  river  of  Canaan,  There  seem  to  have 
been  two  streams  of  this  name,  both  rismg  near  Mount  Tabor, 
in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon ;  one  flowing  westward  into  the  Medi- 
terranean, and  the  otiier  eastward  nito  the  Sea  of  Galilee,  It 
is  certaui  that  the  greater  Kishon  ran  westward,  and  passed 
near  Mount  Carmel,  as  we  read,  (1  Kings  xviii,  40.)  that  the 
prophets  of  Baal  were  brought  down  from  the  mountain,  and 
S2 


210  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  LAO 

slain  at  the  brook  of  Kishon.  Mr.  Maundrel,  the  traveller, 
tells  us  that  this  stream  runs  through  the  middle  of  the  plain 
of  Esdraelon,  and  continuing  its  course  close  by  the  side  of 
Mount  Carmel,  falls  into  the  sea  at  a  place  called  Caiapha. 

KiTHLisn,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  40. 

KiTRON,  a  city  allotted  to  Zebulon,  from  which  the  Ca- 
naanites  were  not  driven  out.  It  appears  to  have  been  a 
strong  place.    Judges  i.  30. 

KiTTiM,  descendants  of  Javan,  the  son  of  Japheth.  See 
Part  I.  p.  19. 

KoA,  a  region  in  Babylonia,  mentioned  in  the  prophecies 
of  Ezekiel,  xxiii.  23. 


L. 

Laced.emon,  (1  Mace,  xii.)  a  famous  city  of  Greece,  called 
also  Sparta,  which  indeed  was  the  proper  name  of  the  city. 
Lacedcemon  bemg  that  of  the  country,  according  to  Strabo 
and  Stephanus.  This  city  was  the  capital  of  Laconia,  and 
situated  on  the  Eurotas.  It  w^as  smaller  than  Athens,  but 
equal  or  superior  in  power ;  and  in  its  most  flourishing  state 
had  no  walls,  the  bravery  of  its  citizens  rendering  them  need- 
less. In  the  time  of  Cassander,  how^ever,  walls  w^re  erected, 
which  were  pulled  down  by  PhilopoBmon,  188  years  after 
Christ.  Some  time  after  this,  Laconia  was  reduced  to  the 
state  of  a  Roman  province,  by  tlie  consul  Mummius.  The 
town  of  Misistra  now  stands  about  a  mile  from  the  ancient 
Laceda3mon.  It  appears,  from  ancient  writers,  that  the  Jews 
claimed  kindred  with  the  Lacedamionians,  and  that  the  latter, 
after  examination  of  their  ancient  records,  allowed  this  km- 
dred.  Mr.  Bryant  supposes  that  the  Laccdfemonians  were 
originally  emigrants  from  the  same  country  as  Abraham. 

Lachish,  a  city  of  Judah.  (Josli.  xv.  S9.)  See  Part  I.  p.  57. 

Lahmam,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  40. 

Laish,  or  Lesliem^  a  city  near  the  head  of  the  Jordan, 
taken  by  the  children  c.f  Dan,  (Josh.  xix.  47.  Judges  xviii.  7. 
29.)  and  thence  called  Dan.    See  Casarea  Philippi. 

Lakum,  a  city  of  Naphtali.    Josh.  xix.  33. 

Lahai-roi,  a  well.    See  Part  I.  p.  34. 

Laodicea,  a  city  of  Phrygia  in  Asia  Minor,  situated  on 
the  river  Lycus,  not  far  from  Colosse.  Its  ancient  name,  ac- 
cording to  Pliny,  was  Diospolis,  which  was  afterwards  changed 
to  Rhoas.  It  was  rebuilt  by  Antiochus  Theos,  who  named  it 
Laodicea,  in  honour  of  his  wife  Laodice.     There  are  several 


JjEB  dictionary  of  the  bible.  211 

other  cities  of  this  name  mentioned  in  profane  history;  but 
the  above-mentioned  is  the  Laodicea  of  the  New  Testament, 
Col.  ii.  1  Rev.  iii.  14. 

This  city  v/as  once  one  of  the  most  commercial  and  wealthy 
in  Asia ;  but,  having-  been  several  tim.es  almost  destroyed 
by  earthquakes,  has  been  deserted  by  its  inhabitants,  and  is 
now  a  scene  of  ruins.  The  former  wealth  and  luxury  of  its 
people  may  be  inferred  from  the  remains  of  sumptuous  build- 
ings yet  visible- ;  among  which  are  two  spacious  theatres,  with 
seats  rising  in  numerous  rows,  one  above  another.  A  modern 
traveller  says,  "  We  saw  no  traces  of  either  houses,  churches, 
or  mosques';  all  was  silence  and  solitude.  A  fox,  which  we 
first  discovered  by  its  ears  peeping  over  a  brow,  was  the  only 
inhabitant  of  Laodicea," 

Lashah,  a  city  in  the  border  of  Canaan,  probably  not  far 
from  Sodom.   Gen.-  x.  19. 

Lasea,  a  city  in  the  island  of  Crete.    Acts  xxvii.  8. 

Lebanon,  the  name  of  two  opposite  and  parallel  ridges  of 
mountains,  called  by  the  Greeks  and  Latins,  Libanus  and 
Anti-Libanus,  situated  on  the  north  of  Canaan,  and  extend- 
ing from  the  neighbourhood  of  Sidon  on  the  Mediterraneanj 
towards  Damascus.  The  highest  summits  of  these  mountains 
are  covered  with  snovv^  most  of  the  year  ;  but  their  sides  ana 
•the  less  elevated  parts,  are  represented  as  being  fruitful  and 
cultivated,  enjoying  a  delightful  temperature,  and  producing 
corn,  fruits,  oil,  and  the  best  wine  in  Syria.  Many  rivers  and 
streams  have  their  sources  in  the  mountains  of  Lebanon,  the 
springs  of  which  are  increased  by  the  melting  of  the  snow 
on  the  higher  elevations,  TJie  Jordan,  the  Barrady,  the 
Orontes,  and  many  smaller  streams,  all  flow  from  these 
mountains  in  different  directions. 

Though  the  mountains  of  Lebanon  are  of  considerable  ex- 
tent, yet  the  name  is  commonly  confined  to  that  part  on  which 
the  cedars  grow ;  other  names  being  given  to  other  parts  of 
these  celebrated  mountains.  The  cedars  of  Lebanon  are 
famed  in  Scripture,  and  trees  of  them  are  yet  found  there, 
which  are  described  by  travellers  as  being  thirty-six  feet  hi 
circumference  round  the  trunk,  and  evidently  of  great  age. 
There  are  not  many  remaining,  but,  according  to  appearances, 
they  were  formerly  more  numerous  than  at  present. 

Lebaoth,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  32.)  called  Beth-Le 
baoth,  xix.  6. 


212  SCRirTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  LYB 

Lebonah,  a  place  not  far  from  Shiloh,  on  the  north.  Judges 
xxi.  19. 

Lehabim,  descendants  of  Misraim,  the  son  of  Ham.  See 
Part  I.  p.  26. 

Lehi,  a  place  in  Judah,  called  also  Rajnath-lehi,  where 
Samson  killed  1000  Philistines  with  the  jaw-bone  of  an  ass. 
Judges  XV.  9.  14.  17. 

Leshem,  see  Laish. 

Levi,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel,  ^ee  Part  I. 
p.  62  and  67. 

LiEANUS,  see  Lebanon. 

LiBNAH,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  desert 
(Numb,  xxxiii.  20.)  Also  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Judah,  16 
miles  south-west  of  Jerusalem  ;  given  to  the  Levites.  (Josh. 
X.  29.  xii.  15.  XV.  42.  xxi.  13.)  Also  a  city  of  Asher,  called 
Shihor-libnath.  Josh.  xix.  26. 

LoD,  a  city,  (1  Chron.  viii.  12.  Neh.  xi.  35.)  called  in  the 
Greek  Lydda.     1  Mace.  xi.  34.  Acts  ix.  35. 

LoDEBAR,  a  place  east  of  Jordan,  near  Mount  Gilead.  2 
Sam.  ix.  4.  xvii.  27. 

LuBiM,  a  people  of  Africa,  inhabiting  the  country  near 
Egypt.  2  Chron.  xii.  3.  xvi.  8.     See  Lyhia. 

LuDiM,  the  descendants  of  Lud,  son  of  Misraim.  See  Part 
I.  p.  25. 

LuHiTH,  a  place  in  the  country  of  the  Moabites,  east  of  the 
Dead  Sea.     Isa.  xv.  5.  Jer.  xlviii.  5. 

Luz,  a  city  of  the  Canaan ites,  afterwards  called  Bethel. 
(Gen.  xxviii.  19.)  Also  a  city  appropriated  to  the  sons  of 
Joseph,  not  far  from  Shecliem.  (Josh.  xvi.  2.)  Another  city 
of  this  name  was  built  in  the  land  of  the  Hittites.  Judofea 
i.  26. 

Lybia,  or  Libya,  m  Hebrew,  Lubim.  (2  Chron.  xii.  3.  xvi. 
8.  Nahum  iii.  9.  Jer.  xlvi.  9.  Dan.  xi.  43.)  A  country  of 
Africa,  lying  west  of  Egypt ;  extending  along  the  coast  as 
far  as  Cyrene,  and  to  an  unknown  distance  into  the  interior. 
In  a  larger  sense,  Lybia  seems  to  have  been  sometimes  used 
for  nearly  the  whole  of  Africa  west  of  Egypt.  It  is  men- 
tioned in  the  New  Testament,  (Acts  ii.  10.)  where  certain 
Jews  from  this  country,  being  at  Jerusalem  on  the  day  of 
Pentecost,  were  converted  by  Peter.  This  country  is  now 
called  Barca,  and  is  separated  from  Tripoli  by  the  Gulf  of 
Sidra.  It  is  generally  a  sandy  desert,  inhabited  by  a  few 
wandering  Arabs,  who  subsist  chiefly  by  plunder. 


MAA  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  213 

Lycaoma,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor,  west  of  Cappadocia ; 

havins"  Galatia  on  the  north,  Cilicia  and  Pisidia  on  the  south, 
gnd  Plnygia  west.  St.  Paul  preached  in  Iconium.  Lystra, 
and  Derbe,  cities  of  this  province ;  (Acts  xiv.  1-6.)  and  the 
churches  established  here  by  him  and  Barnabas,  were  support- 
ed till  the  subjug-ation  of  the  country  by  the  Saracens. 

Lycia,  a  provmce  in  the  south-west  of  Asia  JVIinor,  on  the 
coast  of  the  Mediterranean.  Its  capital  was  Myra,  where 
Paul  entered  a  ship  to  go  to  Rome,  in  order  to  appear  before 
Nero.  (Acts  xxvii.  5.)  The  Lycians  were  formerly  cele- 
brated for  their  justice  and  equity ;  but  before  the  Christian 
era,  many  of  tliem  on  the  sea-coast  were  addicted  to  piracy. 

Lydda,  called  in  Hebrew  Loci,  (1  Chron.  viii.  12.)  and 
sometimes  by  the  Greeks  Diosvolis ;  a  town  in  the  way  from 
Jerusalem  to  Csesarea,  about  15  miles  east  of  Joppa,  and  33 
from  Jerusalem.  Here  Peter  healod  a  man  who  had  kept  his 
bed  with  the  palsy  eight  years.  (Acts  ix.  32.)  It  is  now  a 
ruined  village,  called  by  the  Arabs  Lydd,  having  a  market 
once  in  a  week,  where  traders  resort  to  sell  cottons  and  other 
commodities. 

Ly'dia,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor,  probably  peopled  by  Lud, 
the  son, of  Shem.  {See  Part  L.  p.  25.)  It  lies  on -the  east  of 
the  Egean  Sea;  ,having'Mysia  on  the  north,  Phiygia  on  the 
east,  and  Caria  on  the  south.  In  the  times  of  the  last  Lydian 
kings,  Croesus  and  Alyattes,  the  country.was  much  more  ex- 
tensive, com.prehending  the  whole  territory  from  the  Eg^an 
Sea  to  the  river  Halys.  This  country  was  conquered  by  Cy- 
rus, and' has  since  been  the  prey  successively  of  the  Greeks, 
Romans,  Saracens,  and  Turks. 

The  gospel  v/as  early  introduced  into  Lydia,  and  churches 
established  in  its  chief  cities,  Thyatira,  Sardis,  Philadelphia, 
«fvcc. ;  it  is  even  said  that  some  vestiges  of  Christianity  remain 
here  to  the  present  day. 

Lystra,  a  city  of  Lycaonia,  the  native  place  of  Timothy. 
Acts  XV  i.  1. 


M.. 

Maachath,  a  place  belonging  to  the  Amorites,  situated  Id 
the  north  of  the  district  allotted  to  Manasseh,  east  of  Jordan. 
Josh.  xii.  5.  xiii.  13. 

Maacha,  or  Beth-maocah.     See  Ahel-heth-maacaJi. 


1 


214 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


MAC 


Maarath,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  59. 

Macedonia,  a  large  province  north  of  Greece ;  bounded 
north  by  the  mountains  of  Haemus ;  east  by  Thracia  and  the 
EgeanSca;  south  by  Thessaly  and  Epirus,  in  Gr:;ece:  and 
west  by  the  Ionian  and  Adriatic  seas. 

This  country  was  anciently  called  ^mathia,  and  has  been 
supposed  by  some  to  liave  been  peopled  by  the  descendants  of 
Madai,  the  son  cf  Japheth. 

Caranus,  the  first  king  of  Macedonia,  began  his  reign  814 
years  before  the  Christian  era.  In  the  reign  of  Amyntas  I. 
about  547  years  before  Christ,  the  Macedonians,  upon  being 
threatened  with  an  invasion,  became  tributary  to  the  Persians. 
Having,  however,  shaken  oif  the  Persian  yoke,  Macedonia 
contmued  to  increase  in  power :  and  at  length,  during  the 
reign  of  Philip,  337  years  before  Christ,  all  Greece  was  brought 
under  the  dominion  of  this  nation.  Alexander  tlie  Great,  son 
and  successor  of  Philip,  raised  Macedonia  to  its  height  of 


MAC 


DICTION.IRY    OF    THE   BIBLE. 


215 


No.  2. 


No.  1.  A  represent 
ation  of  an  ancient 
bronze  figure  of  a  goal 
with  one  horn,  which 
was  dug  up  in  xA^sia 
Minor.  It  is  supposed 
to  have  been  affixea 
to  the  top  of  a  milila 
ry  standard,  in  the 
same  manner  as  the 
Roman  eagle  ;  and  it 
is  related  in  history» 
that  Caranus,  the  first 
king  of  the  Macedo- 
nians, ordered  goats 
to  be  carried  before 
the  standards  of  his 
army. 

No.  2.  An  engraving 
from  a  piece  of  sculp- 
ture on  a  pilaster  in 
the  ruins  of  Persepo- 
lis;  in  which  a  goat 
is  represented,  wi^h  a 
large  horn  growing 
out  of  the  middle  of 
his    forehead,   and  a 

lan  in  a  Persian  dress 
is  seen  by  his  side, 
holding  the  horn  with 
his  left  hand,  by  which 
is  signified  the  subjec- 
tion of  Macedon  to 
Persia,  as  we  have 
above  mentioned,  in 
the  year  547  before 
Christ. 


power  and  greatness;  and  made  it  the  third  k-np^dcm  which 
had  obtained  the  empire  of  the  world,  having  no  less  than  a 
hundred  and  fifty  nations  under  its  dominion.  But  after  the 
death  of  Alexander,  the  empire,  being-  divided  among  his  gen- 
erals, quickly  fell  into  weakness  and  contention,  and  Vv'assoon 
swallowed  up  in  the  rising  and  all-conquering  power  cf  the 
Romans.  Macedonia,  when  visited  by  the  apostle  Paul,  (Acts 
xvi.)  was  a  Roman  province  ;  and  several  of  its  cities,  Thes- 


216 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


MAC 


salonica,  Amphipolis,  Berea,  Philippi,  &:c.  are  mentioned  in 
the  New  Testament,  in  which  Christianity  was  founded  at  an 
early  period. 

This  country  was  doubtless  comprehended  under  the  term 
Chittim,  by  the  prophet  Daniel,  by  wliich  term  he  describes 
Greece  in  general ;  and  the  symbol  by  which  this  nation  is 
designated,  that  of  the  goat  with  one  horn,  (Dan.  viii.  5.)  has 
been  proved,  by  reference  to  miodals,  coins,  and  inscriptions  of 
great  antiquity,  to  have  been  the  ancient  symbol  proper  to 
Macedonia,  as  that  of  Persia  was  the  ram. 


Ko.  3.  It  has  been  supposed  that  the  Macedonians  derived  their  ori- 
gin from  Media,  and  probably  tlience  brought  ihis  symbolof  their  coun- 
try, uhicb  may  once  have  been  also  proper  to  Media.  Tiiis  plate  re- 
K resents  another  sculpture  at  Per&epolis  ;  in  which  are  seen  two  single- 
orned  goats,  walking  together,  but  each  directed  by  its  proper  super- 
intendent ;  signifying  the  two  provinc  es  of  Upper  and  Lower  Media, 
subject  to  Persia,  and  under  Persian  governors. 

Other  ancient  medals  represent  the  head  of  a  ram  joined  with  tlie 
head  of  a  single-horned  goat,  implying  either  the  united  empire  of  Per- 
sia and  Media,  or  the  conquest  of  Persia  by  the  Macedonians  under 
Alexander. 

The  fact  that  both  Media  and  Macedonia  were  represented  by  the 
goat  with  one  horn,  explains  the  reason  of  Daniel's  perplexity  on  seeing 
the  vision,  as  he  could  not  tell  which  of  the  two  countries  was  intend- 
ed as  the  conqueror  of  Persia,  until  he  was  informed.  Dan,  viii.  15. 

Machpfxaii,  the  cave  in  which  Abraham  and  the  other  pa- 
triarclis,  w'ith  their  wives,  were  buried.  It  was  situated  near 
Hebron,  and  was  in  the  piece  of  ground  which  Abraham 
bought  ef  Epliron,  the  ilittite,  (Gen.  xxiii.)  which  is  the  first 


MAO  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  217 

p^ece  of  land  mentioned  in  history  as  sold  or  bought.  A  church 
built  over  this  cave  is  now  converted  into  a  mosque,  into 
which  neither  Jews  nor  Christians  are  allowed  to  enter;  but 
they  are  permitted  to  look  through  holes  made  in  the  walls. 

Madai,  a  son  of  Japheth.   See  Part  L  p.  17. 

M  ADM  ANN  AH,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  31. 

AIadon,  (Josh.  xii.  19.)  probably  the  same  as  Maron,  m 
Syria,  north  of  JMount  Libanus. 

Magdala,  a  place  visited  by  our  Saviour,  (Matt.  xv.  39.) 
otherwise  called  Dalmanutha.  (Mark  viii.  10.)  It  is  supposed  to 
have  been  situated  somewhere  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  sea  of 
Galilee :  and  was  probably  the  native  place  of  Mary  jMagdalene, 
from  which  she  took  her  surname.  The  situation  of  this  place 
is,  however,  uncertain ;  and  writers  differ  in  their  opinions  re- 
specting' it,  some  placing  it  on  the  east,  and  others  on  the  Vv^est 
of  the  sea  of  Galilee,  while  others  suppose  it  to  have  been 
near  tlie  head  of  the  Jordan. 

Maged,  a  city  east  of  Jordan,  taken  by  Judas  Maccabeus. 
1  Mace.  V.  38. 

Magog,  a  son  of  Japheth.  See  Gog,  also  Part  I.  p.  17. 

Mahanaim,  a  city  east  of  Jordan  in  the  tribe  of  Gad,  given 
to  the  Levites.  Josh.  xxi.  38.  See  Part  I.  p.  37. 

Mahaneh-da>7,  a  place  nea.r  Kirjath-jearim,  where  the 
Danites  encamped  on  their  v/ay  to  Laish.  (Judg.  xviii.  12.) 
The  name  means  the  camp  of  Dan. 

Makez,  a  place  supposed  to  belong  to  the  tribe  of  Dan.  1 
Kings  iv.  9. 

Makeloth,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilder- 
ness. Numb,  xxxiii.  25. 

Makkedah,  a  city  of  Judah.  (Josh.  xv.  41.)  See  Part  1. 
p.  57. 

Mallos,  a  city  of  Cilicia,  whose  mhabitants  revolted  from 
Antiochus.  2  Mace.  iv.  30. 

Mamre,  a  fertile  plain  or  valley,  near  Hebrcji,  where  Abra- 
ham dwelt,  and  vrhere  ho  built  an  altar  to  the  Lord.  (Gen. 
xiii.  18.)  The  city  of  Hebron  was  also  sometimes  called 
Mamre.    Gen.  xiii.  18. 

Manasseh,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel,  whose  in- 
heritance was  partly  on  the  east,  and  partly  on  the  west  of 
Jordan.   See  Part  I.  p.  65  and  67. 

Maon,  a  city  m  the  south  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  55.)  near 
which  was  a  desert  called  the  Wilderness  of  Maon.  (1  Sam. 
xxiii.  24.)    Also  a  country  in  Arabia.  Judg.  x.  12. 
T 


218  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  MED 

Marah,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  desert 
See  Part  I.  p.  44. 

Maralah,  a  city  in  the  border  of  the  tribe  of  Zebulon 
Josh.  xix.  11. 

Mareshaii,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  44.)  near  which  a 
battle  was  fought  between  Asa,  king  of  Judah,  and  Zerah, 
king  of  Cush,  or  Ethiopia,  in  which  the  latter,  with  an  army 
consisting  of  a  mi'llion  of  men,  was  defeated.  2  Chron.  xiv,  10. 

Mashal,  a  city  of  Asher,  (1  Chron.  vi.  74.)  called  also 
Misheal  and  Mishal.  Josh.  xix.  26.  xxi.  30. 

Masrekah,  a  city  of  Edom.    Gen.  xxxvi.  36. 

Mearah,  a  city  probably  near  Sidon.  Josh.  xiii.  4. 

Medeba,  a  city  east  of  Jordan,  in  the  tribe  of  Reuben; 
said  by  Eusebias  to  be  near  Heshbon.  It  is  one  of  tlie  cities 
of  Moab,  mentioned  by  Isaiah ;  and  appears,  from  Josephus, 
to  have  been  afterwards  conquered  by  the  Arabians.  It  is 
noted  in  the  wars  of  the  Maccabees.  1  Mace.  xi.  36. 

Media,  the  country  of  the  IMedes,  situated  in  Asia,  soutli 
and  west  of  the  Caspian  sea ;  and  bounded  north  by  the  Cas- 
pian, and  the  river  Araxes;  east  by  Parthia;  south  by  Persia; 
and  west  by  Assyria  and  Armenia.  The  Medes  are  denoted 
in  Scripture  by  the  term  Madai,  whence  it  has  been  generally 
supposed  that  this  country  was  peopled  by  Madai,  tiie  son  of 
Japheth.  {!See  Part  I.  p.  17.)  The  province  of  Media  was 
first  raised  into  a  kingdom,  by  its  revolt  from  the  Assyrian 
monarchy,  B.  C.  820 ;  and  after  it  had  for  some  time  enjoyed 
a  kind  of  republican  government,  Dejoces,  by  his  artifice, 
procured  the  title  of  king,  700  B.  C.  After  a  reign  of  53 
years,  he  was  succeeded  by  Phraortes ;  who  was  succeeded  by 
Cyaxares,  B.  C.  625.  His  successor  was  Astyages,  in  whose 
reign  C'-'s  became  master  of  Media,  B.  C.  551,  and  ever 
afterwarc.c  the  country  remained  subject  to  the  Persians. 

Media  is  frequently  mentioned  in  the  Old  Testament,  and 
particularly  by  Daniel  the  prophet,  who  lived  when  Belshaz- 
zar  was  slain,  and  the  kingdom  of  Babylon  taken  by  the 
Medes  and  Persians.  Rages  was  also  in  Media,  (Tobit  i.  14. 
iii.  7,  &c.)  and  into  this  country  were  the  captive  Israelites 
carried  by  Salmancscr.  2  Kings  xvii.  6.  xviii.  11. 

The  northern  parts  of  this  country,  lying  between  the  Cas- 
pian mountains  and  the  sea,  are  very  cold  and  barren ;  but  the 
southern  parts  produce  all  sorts  of  grain,  and  necessaries  of 
life,  and  are  so  pleasant  that  the  country  adjoining  to  Tauria, 


MEL  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  219 

probably  the  ancient  capital  of  Media,  Ecbatana,  has  been 
called  the  garden  of  Persia. 

]\Iegiddo,  a  city  of  Manasseh,  in  the  tribe  of  Issachan 
(Josh.  xvii.  11.)  *S'ee  Part  I.  p.  60. 

Mejarkox,  a  city  of  Dan.  Josh.  xix.  46. 

Mekoxah,  a  city  of  Judah.  Neh.  xi.  28. 

Melita,  an  island  in  the  Mediterranean,  now  called  Malta; 
situated  60  miles  south  of  Sicily,  and  being  about  15  miles  in 
length  from  east  to  west,  and  25  in  breadth  from  north  to 
south.  This  island  is  thought  to  have  been  that  of  the  Phse- 
acians  mentioned  by  Homer,  at  that  period  named  Iperia,  and 
governed  by  Eurymedon.  It  appears  that  the  Phenicians, 
navigating  the  Mediterranean,  took  possession  of  this  island 
about  1519  before  Christ,  and  founded  a  colony  which  became 
flourishing  and  powerful.  They  established,  of  course,  the 
worship  of  their  divinities,  as  well  as  of  those  adored  in  Egypt ; 
though  perhaps  ,tlie  latter  were  derived  direct  from  that  coun- 
try by  a  colony  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Nile,  which, 
perhaps,  settled  in  the  island.  The  name  of  Ogygia  suc- 
ceeded to  that  of  Iperia :  the  island  now  had  kings,  and  Dido 
w^as  here  received  with  due  honour  on  her  voyage  to  lay  the 
foundation  of  Carthage.  The  Greeks  became  masters  of 
Ogygia  about  786  before  Christ,  and  from  them  its  name 
of  Melita  is  handed  down  to  us.  About  528  B.  C.  the  Car- 
thaginians overpowered  the  Greeks,  and  exercised  the  sove- 
reignty of  Melita,  but  without  expelling  the  &rmer  inhabit- 
ants :  to  these  succeeded  the  Romans,  who  under  Attilius  Re- 
gulus  took  the  island,  yet  their  dominion  was  not  established 
till  the  beginning  of  the  second  Punic  war.  Malta  was  now 
in  prosperity,  and  its  manufactures  were  considered  at  Rome 
as  articles  of  luxury.  Under  the  Roman  government  oc- 
curred one  of  the  most  rema.rkable  events  in  the  history  of 
Malta ;  the  shipwreck  of  St.  Paul,  about  A.  D.  56.  (Acts 
xviii.  1.)    Publius  was  at  this  time  Protos,  or  chief. 

On  the  division  of  the  Roman  empire,  Malta  fell  to  the  lot 
of  Constantius.  It  was  seized  by  the  Vandals  in  454,  but 
retaken  by  Belisarius  583,  conquered  by  the  Arabs  in  870,  and 
by  count  Roger,  or  his  brother  Guiscard,  in  1090.  It  passed 
to  the  Germans  by  the  marriage  of  Constance,  heiress  of 
Sicily,  with  Henry  IV.,  son  of  the  emperor  Frederick  Bar- 
barossa ;  but  its  prosperous  days  were  now  over,  and  its  riches 
had  disappeared.  It  was  at  length  united  to  the  crown  of 
Spain,  and  Charles  V.  gave  it  to  the  knights  of  St.  John  of 


^0 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


MaL 


Jerusalem,  who  here  established  themselves,  A.  J).  1530. 
These  knights  were  in  number  1000,  of  whom  500  were  to 
he  resident  in  the  island;  the  others  being  dispersed  through 
Christendom,  in  their  several  seminaries  in  France,  Italy,  and 
Germany.  The  knights  surrendered  the  island  to  Napoleon 
Bonaparte,  who,  being  on  his  way  to  Egypt,  in  1798,  with  a 
formidable  expedition,  stopped  at  Malta,  and  took  possession. 

Tiiis  island  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  British,  and  is 
noted  for  its  stupendous  fortifications.  It  produces  a  variety 
of  excellent  fruits,  though  the  island  is  wholly  a  rock,  not 
having  above  three  feet  depth  of  soil. 


No.  1.  A  medal  of  Malta,  exhibiting  the  head  of  the  goddess  Proser- 
pine, with  a  small  globe,  or  egg,  or  stone,  upon  her  head  ;  an  emblem  fre- 
quent among  Egyptian  deities.  The  reverse  shows  a  divinity  to  which 
two  attendants  are  making  oiTerings,  and  holding  a  canopy  over  the 
deity  ;  from  their  hips  issue  wings,  and  their  lower  limbs  resemble  those 
of  the  ox.  This  resembles  the  Hebrew  cherub,  which  had  several  wings 
and  the  legs  of  an  ox ;  and  may  serve  lo  prove  that  the  cherubic  figure 
was  knowTi  to  other  eastern  nations  beside  the  Hebrews,  and  was,  as 
among  them,  appropriated  to  attendants  on  the  deity.  This  medal  is  re- 
markable for  the  Punic  letters  all,  above  the  canopy,  which  prove  its 
antiquity;  and  as  they  are  also  Ibund  upon  medals  of  a  much  later  date, 
they  show  the  prevalence  of  the  Punic  language  in  (his  island,  and  jus- 
tify the  appellation  barharians,  given  to  the  inhabitants,  (Acts  xxviii.  3. 
4.)  showing  that  it  is  to  be  explained,  not  by  referring  it  to  savage  man- 
ners, but  to  a  Ibrcign  tongue.  The  signification  of  these  letters  is  un- 
certain, but  are  supposed  to  refer  to  the  goddess  Urania,  whom  the 
Arabs,  according  to  Herodotus,  called  Alilat/i,  and  for  which  the  lettei-s 
ALL,  alii,  or  aim,  may  stand.  Scaliger  proves  Urania  to  be  the  moon; 
and  the  deity  on  our  medal  is  probably  the  Phenician  Astarte  or  Ash- 
tarolh. 


MES 


DICTIONARY  OF   THE    DIBLE. 


221 


No.  2. 


No.  2.  A  medal  \viih  the  inscnprion  melitaiox,  of  Melita,  the  inten- 
tion of  which  is  difficult  to  ascertain.  The  figure  on  the  reverse  has 
two  pair  of  wings,  one  pair  at  his  shoulders,  and  the  other  at  his  hips. 
He  wears  a  cap  "divided  into  two  points,  has  a  necklace  of  beads,  and 
carries  in  his  hands  a  crook  or  sickle,  and  a  flail.  These,  with  the 
wheat  ear  which  appears  with  the  head,  seem  to  refer  to  the  production 
of  grain  ;  and  may  denote  the  worship  of  the  goddess  of  fertility.  The 
figures,  as  well  as' those  of  No.  1,  have  an  Egyptian  air,  and  denote  the 
ancient  colonization  of  Malta  from  Egypt. 

Memphis,  a  city  of  Egypt,  (Hosea  ix.  6.)  called  in  Hebrew 
Noph,  which  see. 

Mephaath,  a  city  of  the  Levites  in  Reuben,  in  the  land  ot 
Moab.  Josli.  xiii.  18.  xxi.  37. 

Merathaim,  a  province  of  Chaldea,  upon  the  Tigris,  pro 
bably  not  far  from  Nineveh.  Pekod,  Koa,  and  Shoa,  were 
places  also  in  its  vicinity.     Jer.  1.  21.   Ezek.  xxiii.  23. 

Merom,  a  lake  in  the  north  of  Canaan.  Josh.  xi.  5.  See 
Part  I.  p.  58. 

Meroz,  a  city  of  Galilee.     Judges  v.  23. 

Mesha,  a  mountain.    See  Part  I.  p.  21. 

Meshech,  a' son  of  Japheth.     See  Part  I.  p.  19. 

Mesopotamia,  a  country  lying  between  the  rivers  Tigris 
and  Euphrates,  whence  its  name  from  the  Greek  mesos,  be- 
tween, and  POTAMOS,  a  river ;  but  in  Hebrew  it  is  called  Aram 
JSaharain,  i.  e.  Syria  of  the  rivers ;  and  sometimes  Padan 
Aram.  In  Josh.  xxiv.  2,  3.  it  is  Eher  hanaar,  beyond  the 
river,  rendered  in  our  translation,  "  the  other  side  of  the  flood." 
Under  these  different  names  this  country  is  much  celebrated 
in  Scripture.  It  extended  to  Armenia  on  the  north,  and  seems 
to  have  included  a  considerable  portion  of  Shinar  or  Chaldea, 
to  the  south. 

At  an  early  period  this  country  was  subject  to  the  Assyrians 
T2 


222  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  MIL 

and  Chaldeans.  After  this  it  was  successively  subjugated  by 
the  Persians,  the  Greeks,  the  Romans,  the  Parthians,  the  Sa- 
racens, the  Seljukian  Turks,  the  Tartars,  and  finally  the  Ot- 
toman Turks.  Strabo  informs  us  that  it  was  divided  into  two 
parts,  the  first  of  wliich  he  called  Mesopotamia  Felix,  which 
is  probably  the  upper  part  of  the  country,  the  Padan  Aram 
of  Scripture.  The  other  part  he  styles  incidla  et  aspera,  un- 
cultivated and  rug-ged,  which  was  the  southern  part  of  the 
country  towards  Babylon.  Anciently  Mesopotamia  contained 
many  cities,  and  seems  to  have  been  populous  and  flourishing; 
but  there  is  now  in  this  country  no  place  of  much  conse- 
quence. 

Metheg-ammah,  a  place  taken  by  David  from  the  Philis- 
tines, (2  Sam.  viii.  1.)  probably  the  same  as  Gath.  1  Chron. 
xviii.  1. 

MiCHMASH,  a  city  of  Ephraim  on  the  border  of  Benjamin, 
east  of  Betliaven.     1  Sam.  xiii.  5. 

MiDDiN,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  61. 

IMiDiAN,  a  country  lying  south-east  of  Canaan,  on  the  east 
of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  south  of  Moab;  peopled  by  the  descend- 
ants of  Midian,  the  son  of  Abraham  and  Keturali.  {See  Pari 
Z  p.  35.)  The  Midianites  were  early  a  commerciar  people, 
and  traded  to  Egypt  in  spices,  balm,  &;c.  and  some  of  them 
were  among  the  merchants  who  bought  Jose])h  of  his  brethren 
and  carried  him  into  Egypt.  The  Midianites  are  frequently 
mentioned  in  Scripture,  and  appear  to  have  been  a  roving 
people,  and  to  have  spread  abroad  into  several  regions  differ- 
ent from  their  original  country.  The  capital  of  this  country 
was  called  Midian,  ^and  its  remains  were  to  be  seen  in  the 
time  of  Jerom  and  Eusebius,  lying  on  the  river  Arnon,  south 
from  the  city  of  Ar.  There  is  also  a  place  in  Arabia,  on  the 
shore  of  the  Red  Sea,  now  in  ruins,  called  JMadyan  by  the 
Arabian  geographers,  who  affirm  that  it  is  the  place  where 
Jethro  the  priest  of  Midian  resided  ;  and  they  still  show  the 
well  from  which  Moses  watered  the  flocks. 

MiGDAL-EL,  a  city  of  Nnplitali.  Josh.  xix.  38. 

Migdal-gad,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  37. 

MiGDOL,  a  place  on  the  frontier  of  Egypt.  Exod.  xiv.  2. 
See  Part  I.  p.  43. 

MiGROx,  a  place  mentioned  with  IVIichmash,  (Isa.  x.  28.) 
and  probably  near  it;  apparently  a  city  of  Benjamin.  1  Sam. 
xiv.  2. 

Miletus,  a  sea-port  town  of  Caria  in  Asia  Minor,  said  to 


MIL  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  223 

nave  been  settled  by  a  colony  from  Crete.  This  was  the 
nirth-place  of  Thales,  one  of  the  seven  wise  men  of  Greece, 
and  also  of  several  other  eminent  philosophers.  It  was  visited 
by  St.  Paul,  (Acts  xx.  15.)  v/here  he  was  met  by  the  elders 
cf  the  church  of  Ephesus,  as  he  could  not  take  that  place  in 
nis  way. 

Miletus  was  once  exceedingly  powerful  and  illustrious,  and 
its  early  navigators  extended  its  commerce  to  remote  regions. 
The  whole  Euxine  Sea,  the  Propontis,  Egypt,  and  other 
countries,  were  frequented  by  its  ships,  and  settled  by  its 
colonies.  These  colonies,  which  were  settled  abroad,  amount- 
ed to  no  less  tlian  80,  or  as  Seneca  says,  380.  The  history 
of  this  place,  after  the  declension  of  the  Greek  em.pire,  is 
very  imperfect.  The  whole  region  has  suffered  frequent 
ravages  from  the  Turks.  One  of  their  sultans,  in  1175,  sent 
twenty  thousand  men  with  orders  to  lay  v/aste  the  Roman 
provinces,  and  bring  him  sea-water,  sand,  and  an  oar.  All 
the  cities  on  the  river  Meander  and  on  the  coast  were  then 
turned.  Miletus  was  again  destroyed,  near  the  close  of  the 
thirteenth  century,  by  the  victorious  Ottomans.  It  is  at  pre- 
sent a  mean  place,  and  the  whole  site  of  the  former  city,  to  a 
great  extent,  is  overspread  with  rubbish,  and  grown  up  with 
thickets.  The  principal  monument  of  its  ancient  magnifi- 
cence, is  a  theatre  in  ruins,  457  feet  long,  with  a  front  of 
marble.  There  are  also  remains  of  the  wall,  broken  arches, 
a  few  scattered  pedestals  and  inscriptions,  with  marble  urns, 
and  many  wells.  One  of  the  pedestals  supported  a  statue  of 
Adrian,  and  another  the  emperor  Severus,  which  has  this 
inscription,  "  The  senate  and  people  of  the  city  of  the  Mile- 
sians, the  first  settled  m  Ionia,  and  the  mother  of  many  and 
great  cities  both  in  Pontus  and  Egypt,  and  various  other  parts 
cf  the  world." 

From  the  number  of  forsaken  mosques  among  the  ruins,  it 
is  evident  that  Mahometanism  has  flourished  in  its  turn  at 
Miletus. 

The  Miletus  at  which  Trophim.us  was  left  sick  by  St. 
Paul,  (2  Tim.  iv.  20.)  is  supposed  to  have  been  Miletus  in  the 
island  of  Crete ,  because  when  St.  Paul  visited  Miletus  on 
the  continent,  Tiophunus  went  with  him  to  Jerusalem,  and 
St.  Paul  did  not  return  to  that  Miletus.  (Acts  xx.  17.) 

MiLLo :  this  word  in  Hebrew  signifies  filled  up,  and  proba- 
bly refers  to  a  deep  valley  in  Jerusalem,  between  the  old  city 
on  Mount  Sion^  and  the  temple  on  Mount  Moriah,     This  val- 


224  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  MIZ 

.ey  is  supposed  to  have  been  filled  up  by  David  and  Solomon, 
and  a  place  made  for  the  people  to  assemble,  probably  in  a 
nouse  or  castle  built  for  that  purpose.  (2  Sam.  v.  9.  1  Kings 
ix.  15.  24.  xi.  27.  2  Chron.  xxxii.  5.)  The  Millo  mentioned 
m  Judges  ix.  6.  probably  refers  to  a  person  of  that  name. 

MiNNi,  a  region  in  Armenia.  Jer.  li,  27. 

MiNNiTH,  a  city  east  of  Jordan,  not  far  from  Heshboa 
Judges  xi.  33.  Ezek.  xxvii.  17. 

^fISHAL,  a  city  of  Asher,  near  Ivlount  Carmel,  otherwise 
called  Mashal.  Josh.  xix.  26. 

MisrHAT,  or  En-mishpat,  a  fountain,  also  called  Kadesh, 
where  Moses  and  Aaron  were  judged  for  their  unbelief.  Gen. 
xiv.  7.  Numb.  xx.  12.  xxvii.  14. 

Misrephoth-maim,  a  city  in  the  north  of  the  tribe  of  Asher 
near  the  sea.  Josh.  xi.  8.  xiii.  6. 

MiTHCAH,  a  station  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness. 
Numb,  xxxiii.  28. 

MiTYLENE,  a  principal  city  of  the  island  of  Lesbos,  which 
at  last  became  so  considerable  as  to  give  name  to  the  whole 
island,  which  is  yet  called  Metelin.  This  island  is  about 
seven  miles  from  the  main  land  of  Troas  or  Mysia,  and  is  one 
of  the  largest  islands  in  the  Archipelago.  St.  Paul,  visited 
Mytilene  in  his  way  from  Corinth  to  Jerusalem,  (Acts  xx. 
14.)  and  from  the  5tl]  to  the  8th  century  we  find  Christian 
churches  here. 

This  place  is  memorable  for  having  produced  many  emi- 
nent persons,  as  Sappho,  the  poetess,  Pittacus,  one  of  the 
seven  wise  men  of  Greece,  Alcoeus,  Theophanes,  Arion,  &c. 
The  city  is  on  the  south-east  side  of  the  island,  and  is  well 
fortified. 

MiZAR,  a  hill  near  the  Dead  Sea,  probably  not  far  from 
Zoar ;  a  place  of  resort  for  David,  and  where  he  appears  to 
have  received  some  peculiar  manifestations  of  divine  good- 
ness. Psalm  xlii.  6. 

JNIizPAH,  or  Mizpeh :  this  name  in  Hebrew  signifies  a  watch 
towrr,  or  a  look-out  station ;  and  it  is  not  strange  that  in  a 
hilly  country,  and  one  perpetually  exposed  to  the  incursions 
of  enemies,  like  that  of  the  Israelites,  that  we  find  many 
places  distinguished  by  this  name. 

1.  Mizpeh,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  38. 

2.  Mizpeh,  in  Benjamin.  Josh,  xviii.  26.  Judg.  xx.  1. 
1  Sam.  vii.  5.  1  Kings  xv.  22.  2  Kings  xxv.  23.  Jer.  xl.  6. 

3.  Mizpeh  of  Gilead,  a  city  of  Gad  or  Manasseh.  (Judg.  x. 


NAA  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  225 

17.  xi.  11.  29.  34.)  called  Ramath-mizpeh,  Josh.  xiii.  26,    See 
Part  I.  p.  37. 

4.  The  land  of  Mizpeh,  and  the  valley  of  Mizpeh  (Josh.  xi. 
3.  8.)  were  in  the  east  of  Canaan,  near  the  mountains  of 
Herinon  or  Gilead. 

5.  A  place  in  Moab,  (1  Sam.  xxii.  3.)  probably  the  watch 
tower  in  the  wilderness  mentioned  in  2  Chron.  xx.  24. 

JMizRAiM,  a  name  for  Egypt,  which  was  peopled  by  the 
descendants  of  Mizraim,  the  son  of  Ham.     See  Egypt. 

]\IoAB,  a  country  east  of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  south  of  the 
river  Arnon,  inhabited  by  the  descendants  of  Moab,  the  son 
of  Lot.     See  Part  I.  pp.  34.  56. 

MoDiN,  a  city  or  town  west  of  Jerusalem,  probably  in  the 
tribe  of  Dan,  situated  on  a  hill,  and  famous  for  being-  the 
dwelling-  and  burying  place  of  the  family  of  the  Maccabees. 
1  Mace.  ii.  1.  15.  ix.  19.  xiii.  25. 

JMoLADAH,  a  city  of  Judah,  afterwards  given  to  Simeon. 
(Josh.  XV.  26.  xix.  2.)  It  lay  near  the  southern  boundary  of 
Canaan. 

MoLASTHi,  a  town  not  far  w^est  of  Jerusalem,  the  native 
place  of  tlie  prophet  Micah.  Mic.  i.  1. 

MoREH,  a  celebrated  plain,  and  also  a  hill  near  Sichem  or 
Shechem.     See  Part  1.  p.  30. 

MoRiAH,  a  mountain  in  Jerusalem,  on  which  the  temple 
was  built  by  Solomon.  2  Chron.  iii.  1. 

MosELA,  (Deut.  X.  6.)  or  Moseroth,  (Numb,  xxxiii.  30.)  one 
of  the  encampments  in  the  wilderness,  near  Mount  Hor,  where 
Aaron  died. 

Myndus,  an  island  in  the  Icarian  sea.  1  Mace.  xv.  23. 

Myra,  a  city  of  Lycia  in  Asia  Minor,  where  St.  Paul  em- 
barked on  board  a  vessel  of  Alexandria,  in  order  to  go  to 
Rome.  (Acts  xxvii.  5.)  Myra  v/as  the  metropolis  of  Lycia, 
under  the  Romans ;  and  vras  afterwards  the  see  of  a  Christian 
archbishop. 

My.sia,  a  province  in  the  west  of  Asia  Minor,  bounded 
north  by  the  sea  of  Propontis  and  Bithynia;  east  by  Phrygia; 
south  by  Lydia;  and  west  by  the  Egean  sea.  St.  Paul 
preached  in  this  province.  Acts  xvi.  7. 


N. 
Naamah,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  41. 
Naarath,  a  city  of  Ephraim,  (Josh.  xvi.  7.)  called  also 


226  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  NAZ 

Naaran,  (1  Chron.  vii.  28.)  situated,  according  to  Eusebius, 
five  miles  from  Jericho. 

Nabath.eans,  or  Nabathites,  the  descendants  of  Nebaioth, 
the  son  of  Ishmael,  (Gen.  xxv.  13.)  inhabiting  Arabia  Deserta. 
These  people  are  hardly  mentioned  in  Scripture  before  the 
time  of  the  Maccabees ;  but  in  the  several  wars  which  the 
Jews  maintained  against  the  Syrians,  the  Nabathasans  alone 
showed  them  friendship,  wliile  most  of  the  other  surrounding 
nations  were  against  them.  1  Mace.  v.  24,  25,  &c. 

Nachon,  the  name  of  a  place,  (2  Sam.  vi.  6.)  called  also 
Chidon.  1  Chron.  xiii.  9. 

Nahalal,  a  city  of  Zebulon,  given  to  the  Levites.  (Josh, 
xix.  15.  xxi.  35.)  The  Canaanites  were  suffered  to  dwell  in 
it,  not  being  driven  out.  Judges  i.  30. 

Nahaliel,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilder- 
ness. Numb.  xxi.  19. 

Nahash,  the  name  of  a  city,  (1  Chron.  iv.  12.)  the  situa- 
tion of  which  is  not  known. 

Nain,  a  city  in  Issachar,  about  six  miles  south  of  Mount 
Tabor,  and  near  the  town  of  Endor.  Here  Christ  restored 
the  widow's  son  to  life.  Luke  vii.  11. 

Naioth,  a  place  near  Ramah,  to  which  David  withdrew 
from  Saul.  (1  Sam.  xix.  18,  19.)  Samuel,  with  the  sons  of 
the  prophets,  also  dwelt  here. 

Naphtali,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  1. 
p.  67. 

Naphtuhim,  a  people  descended  from  Misraim.  See 
Part  1.  p.  26. 

Nazareth,  a  small  city  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon,  in  Lower 
Galilee,  west  of  Mount  Tabor,  remarkable  as  being  the  place 
where  our  Saviour  was  brought  up,  and  where  he  resided 
until  about  thirty  years  of  age.  (Matt.  ii.  23.  Luke  ii.  51.  iv. 
16.)     From  this  place  he  received  the  name  of  a  Nazarene. 

The  ancient  city  ^vas  built  upon  a  hill ;  (Luke  iv.  16.  29.) 
but  according  to  the  accounts  of  modern  travellers,  the  present 
town  stands  at  the  foot  of  it,  and  is  surrounded  on  all  sides  by 
hills  and  mountains.  It  is  but  a  small  place,  and  its  inhabitants 
are  about  one  tliird  IMahometans,  and  the  remainder  Chris- 
tians, chiefly  of  the  Greek  church.  The  fathers  of  the  Holy 
Land  have  an  inn  here,  for  the  reception  and  entertainment 
of  pilgrims.  The  place  is  still  shown  where  stood  the  house 
of  the  Virgin  Mary ;  and  on  the  hill  near  the  town,  is  a  rock 
on  the  top  of  a  precipice,  said  to  be  the  place  where  tlie 


View  of  JNazareth. 
inhabitants  were  about  to  cast  down  Jesus.     Both  Turks  and 
Christians  have  a  great  veneration  for  this  place  and  its  neigh- 
bourhood.  Nazareth  is  90  miles  from  Jerusalem,  and  24  from 
Acre. 

Neah,  a  city  of  Zebulon.  Josh,  xix.  13. 

Neapolis,  a  city  in  the  east  of  Macedonia,  to  which  St. 
Paul  came  after  he  had  left  Samothracia.  (Acts  xvi.  11.) 
Neapolis  or  Naplous,  according  to  Jerora,  was  also  a  name 
afterwards  given  to  the  ancient  Sichem  or  Shechem. 

Neballat,  a  city  of  Benjamin.  Neh.  xi.  34. 

Nebo,  a  celebrated  mountain  east  of  the  Jordan.  See  Part  I. 
p.  49.  There  were  also  two  cities  of  tliis  name,  one  in  the 
tribe  of  Reuben,  probably  near  Mount  Nebo,  (Numb,  xxxii. 
38.)  and  another  in  Judah,  (Ezra  ii.  29.  x.  43.)  thought  to 
be  the  same  afterwards  called  Nabau,  eight  miles  south  of 
Hebron. 

Neiel,  a  city  in  the  boundary  of  the  tribe  of  Asher.  Josh, 
xix.  27. 

Nekeb,  a  city  of  Naphtali,  (Josh.  xix.  33.)  supposed  by  some 
to  be  the  place  called  in  the  same  verse  Adami. 

Nephtoah,  a  fountain  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  Josh.  xv.  9. 

Netophah,  a  place  probably  near  Bethlehem.  Ezra  ii.  22. 
Neh.  vii.  26.  1  Chron.  ii.  54. 

Nezib,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  43. 

NiBSHAN,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  62. 

NicopoLis;   there  were  two  cities  of  this  name;  one  m 


228  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  NIL 

Epirus,  near  the  Gulf  of  Arnbracia,  and  another  in  Thrace, 
near  the  eastern  border  of  Macedonia :  it  is  uncertain  at  which 
of  them  Paul  passed  the  winter,  and  trom  where  he  sent  word 
to  Titus,  who  was  then  in  Crete,  to  join  him  there  ;  but  it  was 
probably  that  in  Macedonia.  (Titus  iii.  12.)  There  was  also  a 
place  in  Judea  called  in  later  times  Nicopolis,  situated  22 
miles  north-west  of  Jerusalem, 

Nile,  the  great  river  of  Egypt,  to  the  periodical  inundations 
of  which  this  country  is  indebted  for  its  remarkable  fertility. 

The  sources  of  the  Nile  were  so  much  unknown  to  the 
ancients,  that  the  search  for  them  became  a  proverb  to  express 
any  thing  ridiculous  or  impossible.  Tlie  Ptolemies,  Caesars, 
Alexanders,  and  Neros,  were  all  unsuccessful  in  their  efforts 
to  discover  the  head  of  the  Nile ;  and  this  honour  was  reserved 
for  the  distinguished  Scottish  traveller,  Bruce,  who  was  some 
time  in  Abyssinia,  and  visited  the  fountains  of  this  celebrated 
river,  which  are  in  that  country,  in  a  district  called  Geesh. 
The  people  hero  pay  divine  honours  to  the  Nile,  and  thousands 
of  cattle  have  been  sacrificed  to  the  spirit  of  the  river,  who 
has  his  priests;  and  here  the  surrounding  tribes  annually 
assemble  to  make  their  offerings.  This  solemn  anniversary 
cancels  all  offences,  and  their  quarrels  and  animosities  are 
here  terminated.  This,  liowever,  is  not  the  principal  branch 
of  the  Nile  ;  for  iMr.  Bruce  himself  confesses  that  the  Bahr  el 
Abiad,  or  White  River,  is  three  times  as  large  as  the  Abys- 
synian  branch.  This  White  River  is  supposed  to  rise  at  least 
700  miles  farther  south-west,  in  the  Mountains  of  the  INIoon, 
in  the  interior  of  Africa;  and  rdr.  Bruce  says  that  if  it  were 
not  for  this  river,  the  Nile  itself  would  be  dry  eight  months  in 
the  year,  and  at  no  time  would  it  carry  across  the  desert  so 
much  water  as  to  answer  the  purposes  of  agriculture  in  Egypt. 
The  source  of  the  real  Nile  is  then  yet  to  be  discovered. 

After  leaving  Abyssinia,  the  Nile  flows  through  Nubia  into 
Egypt,  and  a  little  below  Cairo  divides  itself  into  two  great 
branches,  which,  with  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  form  tlie  island 
called  tbe  Delta.  There  are  several  smaller  branches.  The 
ancients  reckoned  eleven  mouths  to  the  Nile,  of  which  seven 
were  considerable.  In  upper  Egypt  tlie  high  banks  prevent  the 
expansion  of  the  river  during  its  inundations,  and  no  part  of  it 
is  overflowed  except  the  lower  part  of  the  Delta.  I'he  land^ 
near  the  river  are  watered  by  machines,  and  where  the  breadth 
of  the  country  renders  it  necessary,  canals  are  cut  to  lead  the 
water  from  the  river     When  the  inundation  reaches  only  to 


ML 


DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


229 


the  perpendicular  height  of  twelve  cubits,  a  famine  necessa- 
rily follows  in  Egypt,  nor  is  the  famine  less  certain  should  it 
exceed  sixteen  cubits;  so  the  just  height  is  between  the  two. 
The  Nilometer  is  a  pillar  erected  in  the  river,  on  vi^hich  are 
marked  the  degrees  of  the  ascent  of  the  water.  There  were 
several  of  these  in  different  places;  and  at  the  present  time 
there  is  one  on  the  island  where  the  Nile  is  divided  into  two 
arms,  one  of  which  passes  to  Cairo,  and  the  other  to  Gizeh. 
In  the  beginning  of  the  inundation  the  water  is  of  a  greenish 
colour  and  unwholesome  to  drink  ;  but  afterwards  it  becomes 
red  and  very  muddy.  This  redness  is  a  certain  sign  that  the 
waters  from  Abyssinia  have  arrived  in  Egypt,  and  the  colour 
is  owing  to  the  soil  of  that  country  and  Sennaar,  which  is  a 
red  clay,  while  the  soil  of  Egypt  is  very  black.  The  inunda- 
tions of  this  river  are  produced  by  the  great  rains  which  fall 
in  Abyssinia  and  the  adjacent  countries,  from  about  the  begin- 
ning of  June  to  the  end  of  August ;  and  when  the  river  exceeds 
its  usual  rise,  which  is  about  tv/enty-four  feet,  it  causes  great 
destruction  and  distress,  sometimes  carrying  away  whole  vil- 
lages, and  rendering  much  of  the  country  unfit  for  the  pur- 
poses of  agriculture,  as  the  superfluous  water  cannot  be  drained 
off  in  time  for  the  inhabitants  to  sow  their  seed. 


In  the  course  of  this  river  there  are  several  cataracts ;  but 
the  largest,  generally  denominated,  by  way  of  eminence,  the 


230  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  KIN 

Cataract  of  the  Nile,  is  particularly  worthy  of  notice.  The 
river  is  about  half  a  mile  in  breadth,  and  the  depth  of  the  fall 
40  or  50  feet.  About  half  a  mile  below,  the  rocks,  on  the  oppo- 
site sides,  approach  each  other  within  30  feet,  where  a  bridge 
of  a  single  arch  has  been  cast  over,  from  which  the  cataract 
is  seen  with  great  advantage. 

NiMRAH,  a  city  of  Gad  or  Reuben,  east  of  the  Jordan, 
(Numb,  xxxii.  3.)  and  probably  the  same  called  Nimrim  in 
Jer.  xlviii.  34.  and  Isa.  xv.  6. 

Nineveh,  an  ancient  city  of  Assyria,  built  by  Asshur,  the 
Bon  of  Shera,  (Gen.  x.  11.)  or,  according  to  another  reading  of 
the  text,  by  Nimrod,  the  son  of  Cush.  {See  Assyria,  also  Part 
I.  p.  25.)  Nineveh  was  not  only  one  of  the  most  ancient,  but 
also  one  of  the  most  famous,  powerful,  and  populous  cities  in 
the  world.  It  stood  upon  the  banks  of  the  Tigris,  and  was 
probably  founded  not  long  after  the  building  of  the  tower  of 
Babel.  In  the  time  of  the  prophet  Jonah,  who  was  sent  thither 
under  Jeroboam  the  second,  king  of  Israel,  about  800  years 
before  Christ,  Nineveh  was  a  very  great  city,  its  circuit  being 
three  days'  journey.  (Jonah  iii.  3.)  Diodorus  Siculus  says,  it 
was  48  miles  in  circumference,  and  surrounded  by  walls  200 
feet  high,  and  so  broad  that  three  chariots  might  drive  on  them 
abreast ;  with  1500  towers,  200  feet  high.  It  is  allowed  by 
Strabo  to  have  been  much  greater  than  Babylon.  At  the  time 
of  Jonah's  visit,  it  was  so  populous  as  to  contain  more  than 
120,000  persons  who  could  not  distinguish  their  right  hand 
from  their  left.  (Jonah  iv.  11.)  If  this,  as  is  generally  under- 
stood, mean  young  children,  the  total  number  of  inhabitants 
may  be  computed  to  have  exceeded  600,000.  Nineveh  was  so 
strong  as  to  have  been  deemed  impregnable ;  and  there  was 
an  old  prediction  concerning  it,  that  it  should  never  be  taken 
until  the  river  became  its  enemy.  This  prediction  induced 
Sardanapalus  to  make  it  a  place  of  retreat  from  his  enemies, 
who  besieged  it  three  years  without  success ;  but  at  last  the 
river  overflowing,  carried  away  a  large  portion  of  the  wall. 
This  accident  so  terrified  Sardanapalus  that  he  burnt  himself 
and  his  treasures,  and  left  the  city  to  the  besiegers.  Destruc- 
tion being  threatened  to  this  city  by  the  preaching  of  Jonah, 
it  th  ?n  escaped  on  repentance.  But  the  people  afterwards 
resuming  tlieir  wicked  courses,  it  was  destroyed  by  Astyages, 
king  of  the  Medes,  that  it  might  no  longer  be  an  encourage- 
ment to  the  Assyrians  to  rebel  against  hin),  as  they  formerly 
had  against  some  of  his  predecessors. 


NOP  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  231 

The  ruin  of  this  great  city  was  foretold  by  the  prophets 
Nahum  and  Zephaniah,  in  a  very  particular  and  pathetic  man^ 
ner,  and  the  uncertainty  of  its  situation  at  the  present  time 
is  a  complete  fulfilment  of  these  prophecies.  It  is  supposed 
to  have  been  situated  near  the  place  now  called  Mosul,  where 
travellers  in  latter  years  have  discovered  extensive  ruins ;  and 
traditions  yet  remain  in  that  country  respecting  the  ancient 
city.  They  show  a  mosque  on  a  hill,  which  is  said  to  be  the 
place  where  Jonah  was  buried.  The  place  is  now  called 
Nunia. 

No,  a  city  of  Egypt.  (Nahum  iii.  8.  Jer.  xlvi.  25.)  See 
Ammon-no. 

Nob,  a  city  of  the  priests,  (1  Sam.  xxii.  11.  19.)  situated, 
according  to  Jerom,  twelve  miles  from  Gibeah,  who  says  its 
ruins  were  yet  to  be  seen  in  his  time. 

NoBAH,  a  city  east  of  Jordan,  (Numb,  xxxii.  42.)  to  which 
Gideon  pursued  the  jlidianites.  Judges  viii.  11. 

Nod,  land  of:  See  Part  I.  p.  12. 

NopH,  or  Memphis,  an  ancient  and  famous  city  of  Egypt, 
and  for  a  long  time  the  residence  of  its  kings.  It  was  situ- 
ated on  the  westerii  bank  of  the  Nile,  not  far  above  the 
modem  Cairo,  and  in  the  same  neighbourhood  as  the  pyramids. 
The  kings  of  Egypt  took  great  pleasure  in  adorning  this  city, 
and  it  was  their  place  of  residence  until  the  time  of  the 
Ptolemies,  when  the  seat  of  government  was  removed  tc 
Alexandria,  and  Memphis  began  to  declme,  its  population  re- 
moving in  great  numbers  to  the  new  capital ;  yet  it  was  still 
a  large  city  in  the  time  of  the  emperor  Augustus.  Six  hun- 
dred years  after,  it  was  taken  and  ravaged  by  the  Saracens, 
who  afterwards  built  another  city  near  it,  to  which  another 
was  afterwards  added,  which  is  known  to  us  under  the  name 
of  Cairo.  These  last,  however,  were  on  the  opposite  side  o*" 
the  river  from  ivlemphis,  being  on  the  eastern  sliore. 

Memphis  once  contained  many  beautiful  temples,  dedicated 
to  different  Egyptian  idols,  to  which  the  prophet  Ezekiel  re- 
fers, (xxx.  13.)  This  city  is  frequently  mentioned  by  the  pro- 
phets, who  foretell  the  miseries  it  was  to  suffer  from  the  kings 
of  Chaldea  and  Persia.  (Isa.  xix.  13.  Jer.  xliv.  1.  Hosea  ix. 
6.  Ezek.  xxx.  13.  16.)  These  prophecies  have  been  strictly 
fulfilled,  the  city  having  been  taken  and  almost  ruined  by 
Cambyses,  and  other  conquerors;  and  being  now  so  com- 
pletely destroyed,  that  the  spot  on  which  it  stood  is  not  cer- 
tainly known.     Jeremiah  said,  "Noph  shall  be  waste  and 


232  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  OPH 

desolate,  without  an  inhabitant ;"  and  not  a  family  or  a  cot- 
tage now  remains.  Only  some  traces  of  ancient  ruins  are 
found,  to  mark  tlie  place  where  it  is  supposed  the  great  city 
once  stood  in  its  pride  and  magnificence. 

NoPHAH,  a  city  of  Moab,  belonging  to  the  Amorites ;  after- 
wards possessed  by  the  children  of  Israel.  Numb.  xxi.  30. 

NopHET,  a  city  of  Manasseh. 

O. 

Oboth,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness, 
between  Punon  and  Ije-abarim.    Numb.  xxi.  10.  xxxiii.  43. 

Olives,  Mount  of:  a  hill  situated  nearly  a  mile  east  of 
Jerusalem,  the  brook  Kidron  running  between  it  and  the  city 
There  are  tln-ee  summits  to  Mount  Olivet,  or  it  consists  of 
three  hills  ranged  one  after  another  from  north  to  south,  of 
which  the  nort.hern  is  tiie  highest.  It  was  from  the  middle 
summit  that  our  Saviour  ascended  to  heaven ;  and  over  the 
place  of  ascension  is  erected  a  small  building,  adjoining  to 
which  is  a  Turkish  mosque.  The  southern  summit  was  that 
on  which  Solomon  built  temples  to  the  gods  of  the  Moabites 
and  Amorites,  (1  Kings  xi.  7.)  and  hence  this  is  called  the 
Mount  of  Corruption.  (2  Kings  xxiii.  13.)  On  Mount  Olivet 
are  yet  shown  caverns  cut  under  ground,  called  the  sepul- 
chres of  the  prophets;  and  twelve  arched  vaults  standing  side 
by  side,  built  in  memory  of  the  apostles,  who  are  said  to  have 
compiled  their  creed  in  this  place;  also  the  spot  where  Christ 
uttered  his  prophecy  concerning  the  final  destruction  of  Jeru- 
salem, of  which  city  there  is  a  full  view  from  the  top  of  this 
mountain.  The  places  called  Gethsemano,  Bethphago,  and 
Bethany,  were  all  on  or  about  the  Mount  of  Olives. 

On,  a  city  of  Egypt.  See  Part  I.  p.  39. 

Ono,  a  city  of  "Benjamin.  1  Chron.  viii.  12. 

Ophir,  a  country  celebrated  in  Scripture  for  its  gold,  the 
situation  of  which  is  doubtful,  though  it  has  been  the  subject 
of  much  inquiry ;  and  about  which  many  conjectures  have 
been  proposed  by  the  learned.  It  is  generally  thouglit  to  have 
taken  its  name  from  Ophir,  the  son  of  Joktan ;  and  we  are 
told  in  Scripture,  that  the  thirteen  sons  of  Joktan  dwelt  from 
Mesha  to  Sephar,  a  mountain  of  the  cast.  (Gen.  x.  30.)  But 
as  Mesha  and  Sephar  are  places  as  mucJi  unknown  as  Ophir 
itself,  it  has  been  necessary  to  look  to  other  circumstances 
relating  to  this  country,  in  order  to  discover  its  situation. 
From  an  examination  of  the  passages  of  Scripture,  in  which 


OPH  DICTIONARY   OF   THE    BIBLE.  238 

rnention  is  made  of  this  country,  it  appears :  1.  That  the  same 
fillips  which  went  to  Tarshish,  went  also  to  Ophir.  (1  Kings 
xxii.  48.  2  Chron.  xx.  36.  1  Kings  ix.  28.  x.  22.)  2.  That 
these  ships  set  out  from  Ezion-gaber,  a  port  on  the  Red  Sea, 
and  after  a  voyage  of  three  years,  returned  freighted  with 
gold,  peacocks,  apes,  spices,  ivory  and  ebony.  (2  Chron.  viii. 
18.  ix.  21.)  3.  That  the  gold  of  Ophir  was  more  esteemed 
than  any  other  gold  mentioned  in  Scripture,  and  that  it  was 
more  abundant  in  that  country  than  any  other  known  at  that 
time.  By  these  tokens,  search  has  been  made  for  the  country 
of  Ophir ;  and  we  shall  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  conclusions 
of  some  of  the  learned  writers  on  this  subject. 

It  is  asserted  by  Josephus  that  Ophir  is  in  the  Indies  ;  but 
as  this  is  a  very  indefinite  term,  it  is  uncertain  to  what  country 
of  India  he  refers.  Accordingly  a  host  of  commentators  have 
given  us  their  labours  in  explanation,  almost  every  one  fixing 
upon  a  different  country,  and  .proving,  to  his  own  satisfaction 
^  at  least,  that  it  was  the  real  Ophir.  Malacca,  Celebes,  Ma- 
labar, the  island  of  Ceylon,  Pegu,  Java,  Sum.atra,  Siam,  and 
Bengal,  have  all  had  their  advocates.  Others  have  looked  in 
quite  another  direction,  and  have  fourS  Ophir  in  the  island  of 
Hispaniola,  Cuba,  and  in  Peru.  Some  have  chosen  Africa, 
and  have  placed  it  on  the  eastern  coast,  in  Sofala  or  Mozam- 
bique; while  others  have  made  Solomon's  ships  double  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  sail  to  Guinea  and  the  gold  coast,  on 
the  west.  Others,  still  more  adventurous,  have  pursued  the 
same  course  around  Africa,  and  entering  the  Straits  of  Gib- 
raltar, have  found  Ophir  on  the  Barbary  coast  of  the  Medi- 
terranean, or  in  Spain.  Calmet  supposes  that  Ophir  was 
somewhere  in  Armenia,  and  that  the  gold  w^as  brought  down 
to  the  Persian  Gulf  and  there  put  on  board  the  ships ;  and 
that  they  took  in  their  apes,  ebony,  and  peacocks,  on  the  coast 
of  African  Ethiopia,  and  their  ivory  and  spices  in  Arabia,  on 
their  return  to  the  Red  Sea.  Dr.  Wells  is  sanguine  in  sup- 
port of  his  theory,  that  the  vessels  sailed  some  distance  up  the 
river  Indus,  and  there  took  in  their  cargoes.  Mr.  Bruce 
thinks  Ophir  was  at  Sofala,  on  the  east  of  Africa,  and  proves 
that  the  voyage  could  not  have  been  made  by  such  ships  as 
those  of  Solomon,  against  the  periodical  moonsoons  which 
blow  in  those  regions,  in  less  than  three  years.  He  mentions 
a  place  on  the  coast  of  Abyssinia,  which  he  calls  Tarshish, 
where  he  supposes  the  vessels  stopped  for  some  time  on  their 
voyage.  Dr.  Doeg  has  very  ingeniously  proved  that  the  ships 
U2 


234  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  PAL 

of  Solomon  sailed  from  the  Red  Sea  round  Africa,  entering 
the  Mediterranean,  and,  visiting  the  colony  of  Tarshish  settled 
in  Spain  at  Tartessus,  there  took  in  part  of  their  lading,  and 
probably  obtained  the  rest  along-  the  coast  of  Africa  on  their 
return.  This  indeed  is  not  improbable,  as  the  ships  were  na- 
vigated by  Tyrians  and  Phenicians,  wlio  were  a  sea-faring 
people,  and  by  far  the  most  commercial  and  enterprising  of 
any  nation  of  antiquity.  It  was  the  Phenician  mariners  who, 
according  to  Herodotus,  conducted  the  ships  of  Pharaoh  Necho, 
king  of  Egypt,  from  the  Red  Sea  by  the  same  passage  round 
Africa,  and  entering  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar,  returned  to 
Egypt  by  the  Mediterranean.  This  was  about  two  centuries 
after  the  time  of  Solomon.  There  is  a  circumstance  connect- 
ed with  this  voyage,  which  gives  considerable  weight  to  the 
truth  of  the  relation.  Herodotus  says  that  the  mariners  re- 
ported a  fact  which,  for  his  part,  he  could  by  no  means  believe 
to  be  true,  namely,  that  in  one  part  of  tlie  voyage  their  sha- 
dows fell  the  contrary  way  to  what  they  usually  did  :  a  na- 
tural consequence  of  having  crossed  the  equinoctial  line,  of  the 
existence  of  whicli  that  ancient  writer  was  probably  ignorant. 
The  fact  of  this  voyage»round  Africa  by  the  Phenician  naviga- 
tors, proves  them  to  have  possessed  sufficient  courage  and  nau- 
tical skill,  to  perform  the  voyage  in  the  time  of  Pharaoh,  and 
why  not  then  in  the  reign  of  Solomon  ]  Our  limits  will  not 
allow  us  to  pursue  this  subject  further ;  but  from  what  has 
already  been  said,  our  readers  will  perceive  that  all  attempts 
to  determine  the  situation  of  the  land  of  Ophir,  must  rest 
chiefly  upon  conjecture. 

Ophni,  a  city  of  Benjamin.  Josh,  xviii.  24. 

Ophrah,  a  city  of  Manasseh,  and  the  native  place  of  Gi- 
deon. (Judges  vi.  11.)  Also  a  town  of  Benjamin.  Josh,  xviii. 
23. 

Orthosias,  a  maritime  city  of  Phenicia,  opposite  the 
island  of  Aradus,  and  near  Tripolis.  (1  Mace.  xv.  37.)  It  is 
now  called  Tortosa,  and  still  shows  interestmg  antiquities. 


P. 

Padan-aram,  a  country  supposed  to  lie  in  the  north-west 
of  Mesopotamia.     Gen.  xxviii.  2.  G. 

Palestine,  a  name  properly  denoting  the  country  of  the 
Philistines,  but  frequently  used  to  designate  the  whole  land 
of  Canaan,  otherwise  called  the  Holy  Land,  or  Judea. 

Palmyra,  a  city  in  the  desert  of  Syria  towards  the  Eu- 


PAL  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  235 

phrates,  called  in  Scripture  Tadmor,  and  built  by  Solomon. 
(1  Kings  ix.  18.)  Here  was  a  stream  of  water  and  a  fertile 
spot  in  the  midst  of  that  vast  desert,  and  the  place  being  con- 
Tenient  for  carrying  on  the  trade  with  India,  and  also  pre- 
serving the  intercourse  between  the  Mediterranean  and  Red 
tSea,  a  city  was  built  here  by  that  commercial  and  enterpri- 
sing  monarch  of  the  Hebrews.  Its  situation  was  extremely 
favourable  for  the  caravan  trade,  and  it  soon  became  a  rich 
and  powerful  city.  It  seems  to  have  early  passed  out  of  the 
Jewish  nation,  probably  soon  after  the  death  of  Solomon,  as 
the  Hebrews  were  then  engaged  in  civil  dissensions,  and  were 
divided  into  two  kingdoms.  Tadmor  then  submitted  to  the 
dominion  of  the  Babylonians  and  Persians,  and  afterwards  to 
the  Macedonians  under  Alexander,  and  the  Seleucidae,  his 
successors.  But  when  the  Roman  power  gained  an  ascen- 
dency in  the  east,  and  the  Parthians  seemed  to  limit  their  con- 
quests farther  eastward,  Palmyra  enjoyed  a  free  trade,  and 
was  undisturbed  by  the  contending  powers,  probably  in  a  great 
measure  owing  to  its  situation  in  the  midst  of  a  vast  desert, 
where  armies  could  not  well  subsist  while  they  reduced  it  by 
force.  With  these  advantages  of  freedom,  neutrality  and 
trade,  for  nearly  two  centuries,  it  acquired  a  state  of  wealth 
answerable  to  the  magnificence  of  its  noble  structures.  In 
the  reign  of  Adrian  it  sided  with  the  Romans  against  the  Par- 
thians, and  was  much  favoured  and  embellished  by  that  em- 
peror. From  this  time  to  that  of  Aurelian,  about  148  years, 
this  city  continued  to  flourish  and  increase  in  wealth  and  pow- 
er to  such  a  degree,  that  the  inhabitants  brought  a  powerful 
army  into  the  field  to  the  assistance  of  the  Romans  against 
the  Persians,  for  which  service  the  emperor  Gallienus  gave  a 
share  in  the  em.pire  to  Odenathus,  one  of  the  lords  of  Palmyra. 
He,  with  his  son,  being  murdered  by  a  kinsman,  his  wife  Ze- 
nobia  assumed  the  government  of  the  east ;  but,  her  ambitious 
designs  displeasing  the  emperor  Aurelian,  he  marched  against 
her,  and  having  in  tv/o  battles  routed  her  forces,  he  besieged 
her  in  Palmyra.  The  town  was  yielded  to  him,  and  Zenobia, 
flying  with  her  son,  was  pursued  and  taken.  Aurelian  spared 
the  city,  and  leaving  a  small  garrison,  marched  for  Rome  with 
his  captive.  The  inhabitants,  believing  he  would  not  return, 
again  asserted  their  independence,  and  killed  the  garrison  he 
nad  left  in  the  city.  Aurelian  hearing  of  this,  though  already 
arrived  in  Europe,  returned,  destroyed  the  city,  and  put  to  the 
sword  nearly  all  the  inhabitants.     After  this  it  never  revived, 


236 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


PAM 


and  gradually  sunk  into  the  state  of  a  miserable  village.  It 
is  now  in  ruins,  and  the  splendour  and  magnificence  of  itg 
porticoes,  temples,  and  palaces  which  yet  remain,  have  been 
the  wonder  of  travellers,  who  describe  them  as  the  most  beau- 
tiful in  the  world. 


Ruins  of  Palmyra. 

On  these  ruins  are  still  found  a  great  number  of  inscriptions, 
some  in  Greek,  and  others  in  the  ancient  Palmyrene  charac- 
ters. The  pillars  are  mostly  of  marble,  from  the  mountains 
of  Syria ;  but  there  are  some  of  porphyry,  of  great  magnitude, 
and  wonderful,  considering  the  distance  they  must  have  been 
brought ;  no  quarries  of  that  stone  being  known  nearer  than 
in  Egypt,  about  midway  between  Cairo  and  Syene,  between 
the  Nile  and  the  Red  Sea.  This  stone  is  very  valuable  for 
colour  and  hardness,  and  the  Egyptian  quarries  furnished  blocks 
of  any  magnitude. 

Pamphvlia,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor ;  bounded  north  by 
Pisidia,  east  by  Cilicia,  south  by  the  Mediterranean,  and  west 
by  Lycia,  and  part  of  Phrygia.  That  part  of  the  Mediterra- 
nean along  its  coast  was  called  the  sea  of  Pamphylia.  (Acts 
xxvii.  5.)  Perga  was  one  of  its  cities,  wliere  Paul  and  Bar- 
nabas preached.  (Acts  xiii.  l*i.)  The  Pamphyliaus  were  a 
commercial  people,  and  it  is  probable  that  many  strangers 
flocked  there,  among  whom  were  Jews,  as  we  find  "dwellers 
in  Pamphylia"  mentioned  as  having  come  to  Jerusalem  on 
the  day  of  Pentecost.     The  country  is  fertile  and  well  cul- 


PAR  DICTIONARY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  237 

tivated;  but  the  lower  part  is  extremely  hot  in  summer,  and 
tlie  people  retire  to  the  mountains  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
province,  which  are  a  part  of  the  range  called  Mount  Taurus. 

Paineas,  a  city  of  Syria ;  the  same  otherwise  called  Laish, 
Leshem,  Dan,  and  Ccesarea  Fhilippi. 

Paphos,  a  city  in  the  island  of  Cyprus,  now  called  BafFo ; 
anciently  famous  for  the  worship  of  Venus.  (See  medals  of 
Cyprus.')  Paul  and  Barnabas  preached  here,  and  converted  to 
Christianity  Sergius  Paulus,  the  Roman  proconsul  or  deputy. 
Acts  xiii.  6. 

Paran,  a  desert  or  wilderness  south  of  the  Land  of  Canaan. 
See  Part  L  p.  46.  The  Paran  mentioned  in  Deut.  i.  1.  and  1 
Kings  xi.  18.  appears  to  have  been  a  city,  and  is  probably  the 
same  which  Easebius  says  gave  name  to  the  Desert  of  Paran, 
being  situated  in  its  neighbourhood. 

Parthia,  a  country  lying  east  of  Media,  having  Hyrcania 
on  the  north,  Aria  on  the  east,  and  the  desert  of  Caramania  on 
the  south.  This  country  was  for  a  long  time  connected  with 
Media,  and  together  with  it  fell  to  the  kings  of  Persia,  being 
afterwards,  with  Persia,  subdued  by  Alexander  the  Great ;  it 
continued  so  until  about  250  years  before  Christ,  when  Area- 
ces,  a  noble  Parthian,  wrested  his  own  country,  and  the  other 
provinces  east  of  the  Euphrates,  from  the  Greeco-Syrian  em- 
pire, and  erected  the  Parthian  kingdom.  This  new  power 
became  a  troublesome  enemy  to  the  Romans,  and  sometimes 
carried  its  conquests  from  the  Hellespont  to  the  Euphrates, 
and  even  to  the  Indus ;  on  the  other  side  triumphing  over 
Egypt  and  Libya.  The  Parthians  at  length  submitted  to  the 
Romans,  under  Augustus  Cgesar,  so  far  as  to  receive  for  their 
kings  such  as  should  be  appointed  by  the  em.peror  and  senate  of 
Rome ;  but  this  submission  was  not  of  long  continuance.  The 
government  was  overthrown  by  the  Persians  about  A.  D.  232, 
and  in  640  the  country  was  overrun  by  the  Saracens.  The 
ancient  Parthia  is  now  the  Persian  province  of  Irak ;  and  is  a 
fine  and  healthy  country,  though  rather  hilly.  The  ancient 
Parthians  were  distinguished  for  the  veneration  they  paid  to 
their  kings ;  and  for  their  peculiar  manner  of  fighting  on 
horseback,  when,  pretending  to  retreat,  they  discharged  their 
arrows  with  great  precision  and  effect,  shooting  them  back- 
wards over  their  heads.  We  find  Jews  from  this  country 
attending  the  Pentecost  at  Jerusalem,  (Acts  ii.  9.)  where  they 
appear  as  distinct  from  the  Elam.ites  or  Persians. 


SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY. 


PAT 


No.  1. 


No.  1.  A  medal  of  Parlhia,  representing  the  head  of  one  of  its  kings; 
and  on  the  reverse,  objects  and  implemenis  of  worship,  with  guards 
standing  on  each  side  of  the  ahar.  The  head  of  a  man  in  the  flame 
of  the  altar,  seems  to  denote  that  the  Parthians  worshipped  deities 
allied  to  those  of  India,  as -we  sometimes  find  the  head  of  the  Hindoo 
deity  Brahma  surrounded  w-ith  flames.  This  tends  to  strengthen  the 
idea  of  the  progress  of  idolatry  from  the  east. 


No.  2.  Similar  in  design  to  No.  1.  I'he  heads  on  these  medals  are 
said  to  be  portraits  of  the  kings  of  Partliia,  in  whose  reign  they  were 
struck.  In  the  globe  worn  by  this  head  is  a  symbol,  supposed  to  be 
Ihat  of  a  departed  spirit,  raised  to  divine  honours.  Among  the  deities 
of  Egypt,  we  find  very  frequently  a  globe  borne  on  the  head,  as  by 
Isis,  &c.  The  inscriptions  on  these  medals  are  supposed  to  be  the  an- 
cient Persian  characlers. 

Parvaim,  a  place  from  which  Solomon  received  gold.  (2 
Chron.  iii,  6.)  It  is  thought  to  be  the  same  as  Ophir,  or  Ila- 
vilah. 

Pa.sdammim,  (1  Chron.  xi.  13.)  the  same  as  Ephesdammim, 
a  city  of  Judah.  1  Sam.  xvii.  1. 

Patara,  a  city  of  Lycia,  in  Asia  IMinor,  once  a  sea-port 
with  a  good  harbour.     St.  Paul  arrived  at  this  place  from 


PEL  DICTIONARY  OF   THE  BIBLE.  239 

Rhodes,  and  sailed  hence  to  Phenicia.  (Acts  xxi.  1.)  This 
city  was  beautified  by  many  temples,  one  of  which  was  dedi- 
cated to  Apollo,  and  contained  an  oracle  not  much  inferior  in 
wealth  and  credit  to  that  of  Delphi.  Patara,  though  once  the 
capital  of  the  province,  is  now  an  inconsiderable  town. 

Pathros,  a  city  and  district  of  Upper  Egypt,  named  from 
the  Pathrusim,  descendants  of  Misraim.  (Gen,  x.  14.)  This 
place  is  mentioned  in  Isa.  xi.  11.  Jer.  xliv.  1.  15.  Ezek.  xxix. 
14.  XXX.  14.  and  appears  to  have  been  considered  distinct  from 
the  Egypt  of  Scripture,  which  was  the  lower  part  of  the 
country  now  called  by  that  name.  Pathros  is  believed  to 
liave  been  what  is  now  called  Upper  Egypt,  the  Thebais  of 
the  Greeks.  Some  have  thought  the  Pathros  of  Isa.  xi.  11. 
to  mean  Arabia  Petrea. 

Patmos,  an  island  of  the  Archipelago  or  Egean  Sea,  near 
Samos.  It  has  a  good  harbour,  and  is  25  or  30  miles  in  cir- 
cumference. To  this  island,  as  well  as  to  others  in  different 
parts,  did  the  Roman  government  confine  offenders ;  a  punish- 
ment which  was  laid  by  the  emperor  Domitian  on  St.  John 
the  divine,  who  here  wrote  his  revelation  to  the  churches  of 
Asia.  (Rev.  i.  9.)  The  Greek  monks  of  the  island  yet  show 
the  cell  or  grotto  in  a  rock,  in  which  it  is  said  he  wrote,  and 
which  they  call  Apocalypsis.  In  this  island  is  a  large  con- 
vent, with  a  college  for  the  education  of  Greek  monks  or 
caloyers,  who  are  spread  over  all  Greece.  They  are  said  to 
be  ignorant  and  superstitious,  though  they  have  great  influ- 
ence over  the  people :  scarcely  a  piratical  vessel  is  without 
its  caloyer  or  priest,  to  give  absolution  to  its  plundering  and 
lawless  crew  for  their  murders  and  other  crimes.  The  island 
of  Patmos  is  exceedingly  rocky,  and  but  little  cultivated : 
population  about  3000. 

Pau,  a  city  of  Edom.  where  king  Hadar  dwelt.  Gen. 
xxxvi.  39. 

Pelusium,  a  city  of  Egypt,  called  in  Scripture  Sin.  (Ezek. 
XXX.  15,  16.)  It  was  situated  on  the  eastern  channel  of  the 
Nile,  thence  called  the  Pelusiac  branch,  and  was  near  its 
mouth.  It  was  well  fortified,  and  is  styled  by  Ezekiel  "  the 
strength  of  Egypt."  Being  on  the  eastern  frontier  of  the 
country,  it  generally  suffered  the  first  attack  of  the  Assyrian, 
Babylonian,  and  Persian  invaders.  It  was  besieged  by  Sen- 
nacherib, Nebuchadnezzar,  and  Cambyses ;  by  the  latter  of 
whom  it  was  taken  by  a  curious  stratagem.  He  is  said  to  have 
placed  in  front  of  his  troops,  when  marching  to  the  assault,  a 


240  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  PER 

number  of  those  animals  which  were  esteemed  sacred  by  the 
Egyptians,  such  as  cats,  dogs,  sheep,  &c.  by  which  means  the 
Egyptian  soldiers  of  the  town  were  prevented  from  tlirowing 
their  spears,  or  discharging  their  arrows  on  the  assailants,  by 
the  fear  of  wounding  or  lulling  some  of  the  sacred  animals ; 
and  the  place  was  thus  easily  taken. 

The  name  Pelusium,  is  derived  from  the  Greek  Pelos,  mudf. 
and  its  Scripture  name  Sin,  has  in  Syriac  the  same  meaning, 
as  has  also  the  modern  name  of  the  place,  which  is  called  by 
the  i^rabs  Tineh.  According  to  some  writers,  Damietta 
stands  nearly  in  the  spot  once  occupied  by  Pelusium ;  but  this 
appears  to  be  an  error.  Damietta  is  at  least  50  miles  distant, 
at  the  other  end  of  lake  Menzala. 

Peniel,  or  Penuel,  a  place  east  of  Jordan,  near  the  brook 
Jabbok.    See  Part  I.  p.  37. 

Pentapolis,  the  Jive  cities,  a  name  sometimes  given  to  the 
district  which  contained  the  cities,  Sodom,  Gomorrah,  Admah, 
Zeboim,  and  Bela  or  Zoar,  which  w^ere  destroyed  by  fire,  vol- 
canic eruptions,  and  tlie  sinking  of  the  earth,  on  account  of 
their  great  wickedness.     See  Part  I.  p.  31.  also  Dead  Sea. 

Perea,  a  general  name  for  the  country  east  of  Jordan ;  but 
which  belonged  particularly  to  that  part  of  it  lying  south  of 
Iturea,  and  which  was  once  the  possession  of  the  tribes  of 
Reuben  and  Gad. 

Perga,  a  city  of  Pamphylia  in  Asia  Minor,  visited  by  St. 
Paul  and  his  company.  (Acts  xiii.  14.)  This  city  was  famous 
among  the  heathen  for  a  temple  of  Diana,  and  the  yearly  fes- 
tivals there  held  in  honour  of  her,  whence  she  is  sometimes 
styled  Diana  Pergosa.  Here  John,  surnamed  Mark,  quitted 
Paul  and  Barnabas,  and  returned  to  Jerusalem.  This  was  one 
of  the  most  considerable  towns  of  the  province,  and  Christian 
churches  appear  to  have  been  maintained  in  it  till  the  close 
of  the  eighth  century. 

Perga.mus,  a  city  of  Mysia  in  the  west  of  Asia  Minor,  and 
once  the  capital  of  the  kingdom  of  Pergamus,  which  included 
the  provinces  of  Mysia,  ^Eolia,  Ionia,  Lydia,  and  Caria.  This 
was  once  a  noble  city,  and  is  celebrated  as  the  native  place 
of  Galen,  the  famous  physician.  Here  parchment  was  invent- 
ed, and  ti\e  city  had  a  library  of  200,000  volumes,  which  had 
been  collected  by  its  kings.  This  noble  collection  was  after- 
wards transported  to  Egypt  by  Cleopatra,  and  added  to  the 
Alexandrian  library.  Previous  to  the  use  of  parchment,  wri- 
tings were  made  upon  papyrus,  which  was  only  manufactured 


PER 


DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


241 


in  Eg-ypt,  and  Ptolemj^  forbade  its  exportation  from  that  coun- 
try, in  order  to  prevent  Eumenes,  Idng  of  Pergamus,  from 
making-  a  library  as  valuable  and  choice  as  thatof  x\lexandria. 
This  g-ave  rise  to  the  invention  of  parchment  at  Peru-amus, 
and  it  was  thence  called  charta  pergamena.  The  rival  libra- 
ries of  papyrus  and  parchment,  united  by  Cleopatra,  were 
fatally  destroyed  by  the  Saracens  at  Alexandria,  A.D.  642. 

Christianity  was  early  established  at  Pergamus,  but  the 
church  appears  to  have  departed  from  the  purity  of  the  gospel 
in  the  time  of  St.  John  the  divine,  as  a  severe  doom  is  threat- 
ened against  it.  (Rev.  ii.  12.)  The  place  is  now  called  Berga- 
mo, and  presents  many  ruins  which  indicate  its  former  magni- 
ficence. It  yet  contains  a  few  families  of  Christians,  who  are 
much  oppressed  by  the  Turks;  the  present  population  is  about 
3000. 

Perizzites,  a  people  of  Canaan.  See  Part  I.  p.  33. 


Ruins  of  Persepolis. 
Persepolis,  the  ancient  capital  of  the  Persian  empire,  sit- 
uated on  the  river  Araxes,  now  called  the  Bendemeer ;  and 
represented  by  the  Greek  writers  as  one  of  the  richest  and 
most  magnificent  cities  in  the  world.  It  was  taken  by  Alex- 
ander the  Great,  who  here  found  120,000  talents  in  silver  and 
gold,  which  fell  to  his  own  share,  after  his  soldiers  had  pil- 
laged the  city  and  taken  what  they  pleased  in  money  and 
jewels  to  an  immense  amount.  But  the  chief  beauty  of  this 
city  was  the  royal  palace,  built  upon  a  hill  surrounded  by  three 
V 


242  scRiprrRE  geography.  PER 

walls,  the  first  16  cubits  hig-h,  the  second  30,  and  the  third 
60 ;  all  of  them  of  black  polished  marble,  with  battlements 
and  towers.  The  palace  was  of  exceeding  beauty  and  mag- 
nificence, the  roof  shining  with  ivory,  silver,  gold,  and  amber; 
and  the  king's  throne  being  wholly  composed  of  gold  and  the 
richest  pearls.  This  noble  and  splendid  building,  one  of  the 
greatest  ornaments  of  the  eastern  world,  was  consumed  with 
fire  by  Alexander  in  a  drunken  fit,  at  the  instigation  of  Lais, 
a  courtezan,  by  way  of  revenge  for  the  cities  w  liich  the  Per- 
sians had  formerly  burnt  in  Greece.  Though  Alexander,  when 
sober,  repented  of  his  rashness,  and  ordered  that  it  should  be 
rebuilt,  yet  it  never  rose  to  its  former  glory ;  the  conqueror 
dying  shortly  after,  and  the  building  being  neglected.  It 
appears  to  have  soon  fallen  mto  ruin,  as  Quintus  Curtius,  who 
lived  in  the  reign  of  Claudius  Ceesar,  says  that  no  trace  of  it 
could  have  been  found,  if  not  indicated  by  the  river  Araxes, 
on  whose  bank  it  stood.  Modern  travellers,  however,  have 
discovered  at  a  place  called  Chel-minar,  on  the  river  Bende- 
meer  or  Araxes,  the  most  magnificent  ruins  of  a  temple  or 
palace  that  are  now  in  existence  on  the  face  of  the  earth. 
They  lie  at  the  north  end  of  that  spacious  plain  where  Per- 
sepolis  once  stood,  and  are  generally  conjectured  to  be  the 
remains  of  that  palace  which  was  burnt  by  Alexander.  Pcr- 
sepolis  is  mentioned  in  2  i\Iacc.  ix.  1,  2.,  but  probably  there 
means  Elymais,  as  Persepolis  was  in  ruins  before  the  time  of 
Antiochus,  being  destroyed  by  Alexander ;  whence  it  is  pro- 
bable that  the  author  has  put  Persepolis  for  the  capital  city 
of  Persia,  though  its  true  name  was  then  Elymais,  which  the 
Greek  author  might  translate  into  Persepolis,  which  signifies 
the  city  of  the  Persians. 

Persia,  an  ancient  and  celebrated  empire  in  Asia ;  extend- 
ing from  the  Indus  on  the  east,  to  the  Euphrates  on  the  west; 
and  from  the  Caspian  Sea  and  Mount  Caucasus  north,  to  the 
Persian  Gulf  and  the  Indian  Ocean  south ;  being  about  1800 
miles  long,  and  1100  broad.  In  the  days  of  Ahasuerus,  its 
extent  was  "  from  India  even  unto  Ethiopia,  over  an  hundred 
and  seven-and-twenty  provinces."  (Esther  i.  1.)  This,  how- 
ever, describes  the  Persian  empire  in  its  largest  sense.  Per- 
sia proper  was  only  a  province  of  this  empire,  and  was  bound- 
ed on  the  north  by  Media;  east  by  the  deserts  of  Caramania ; 
south  by  the  Persian  Gulf;  and  west  by  Ciialdea,  or  Susiana. 
This  was  the  ancient  Elam,  so  called  from  Elam,  the  son  of 
Shem,  from  whom  its  first  inhabitants  were  descended ;  and 


JP£R  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  243 

by  wliich  name  it  is  known  in  Scripture  till  the  time  of  Daniel 
the  prophet,  who  lived  in  the  reign  of  Cyrus.  This  prince 
united  the  king-doms  of  Persia  and  Media,  and  is  generally- 
considered  the  founder  of  the  Persian  empire,  whicli  from  this 
time  began  to  be  called  Persia.  The  name  is  supposed  to  be 
derived  from  Paras,  or  Peres,  a  horseman,  as  the  inhabitants 
were  mucli  on  horseback,  and  it  is  even  said  to  have  been  con- 
sidered degrading  in  that  country  to  be  seen  going  on  foot. 
From  Peres,  the  Greeks  formed  their  Persis,  and  the  Latins 
Persia. 

The  people  of  Elam,  or  Persia  proper,  appear  to  have  main- 
tamed  an  independent  government  for  some  centuries  before 
they  became  subject  to  the  Assyrian  empire.  From  the  domin- 
ion of  the  Assyrians  they  were  partially  delivered  by  Tiglath- 
Pileser ;  but  w^ere  conquered  and  annexed  to  the  kingdom  of 
Media  by  Phraortes.  About  500  years  before  Christ,  Persia 
and  Media  were  united  by  Cyrus,  the  founder  of  the  Persian 
empire,  and  by  whom  itw'as  raised  to  a  high  degree  of  power 
and  dominion.  Cyrus  was  succeeded  by  Cambyses,  who  is 
called  Ahasuerus,  (Ezra  iv.  6.)  and  after  a  reign  of  seven 
years  and  five  months  he  was  succeeded  by  Orohastes,  or 
Smerdis  the  magian,  called  Artaxerxes.  (Ezra  iv.  7.)  He  was 
killed,  after  a  reign  of  only  five  months,  by  seven  conspirators, 
one  of  whom  was  Darius  Plystaspes,  wlio  succeeded  him.  This 
Darius  is  called  Ahasuerus.  in  the  Hebrew  book  of  Esther, 
and  Artaxerxes-in  the  Greek  of  the  same  book.  He  reigned 
36  years,  from  the  year  of  the  world  3482  to  3519,  being  suc- 
ceeded by  Xerxes  I.,  who  reigned  12  years.  His  successor 
was  Artaxerxes  Longimanus,  who  reigned  48  years,  from 
3531  to  3579.  After  him  was  Xerxes  11.  who  reigned  but  one 
year,  being  murdered  by  his  brother  Sogdianus,  who  reigned 
seven  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  Ochus,  or  Darius  Nothus, 
who  died  in  3590,  after  a  reign  of  19  years.  Next  was  Ar- 
taxerxes Mnemon,  who  reigned  43  years,  being  succeeded  by 
Artaxerxes  Ochus,  from  3643  to  3666  ;  after  whom  was  Arses, 
who  reigned  fnree  years,  and  died  in  3668.  His  successor 
was  Darius  Codomanus,  who  reigned  six  years,  and  w^as  con- 
quered by  Alexander  the  Great  in  3674,  w^hich  ended  the 
empire  of  Persia,  and  made  it  tributary  to  the  Greeks.  After 
the  death  of  Alexander,  when  the  Macedonian  empire  was 
divided  among  his  ofiicers,  Seleucus  Nicanor  made  himself 
master  of  the  Persian  province?,  till  the  revolt  of  the  Par- 
thians  introduced  new  revel uti&ns  in  the  east.     Persia  was 


244  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  PER 

partly  reconquered  from  the  Greeks,  and  remained  tributary 
to  the  Parthians  for  nearly  500  years.  After  this,  the  sove- 
reignty was  again  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Persians  by  the 
revolt  of  Artaxerxes,  a  connnon  soldier,  A.  D.  229,  who 
became  the  founder  of  tiie  second  Persian  monarchy,  which 
proved  so  inimical  to  the  power  of  tlie  Roman  emperors. 
About  A.  D.  640,  Persia  was  conquered  by  the  Saracens,  and 
submitted  to  the  Mahometan  dominion  and  religion,  in  which 
state  it  still  continues. 

Authors  speak  differently  of  the  religion  of  the  ancient  Per- 
sians. According  to  Herodotus,  they  had  neither  temples, 
altars,  nor  statues,  neither  would  they  suffer  any  to  be  made, 
because  they  did  not  believe,  as  the  Greeks  did,  that  the  gods 
were  of  human  origin.  They  sacrificed  on  the  highest  moun- 
tains, and  gave  the  name  of  God  to  the  whole  circuit  of  the 
heavens.  They  sacrificed  also  to  the  sun,  the  moon,  the  earth, 
and  the  water ;  and  knew  no  other  gods  anciently  but  these. 
They  afterwards  learned  from  the  Syrians  and  Arabians  to 
sacrifice  to  Astarte,  Urania,  or  Venus.  Some  modern  authors 
think  the  ancient  Persians  had  just  notions  concerning  the 
deity,  and  believed  in  one  God ;  and  that  the  worship  of  the 
sun  and  the  fire  was  merely  relative.  The  Persians  refer 
their  religion  to  Zoroaster,  who  is  thought  by  some  to  have 
been  the  same  as  Abraham ;  though  others  believe  him  to  have 
been  the  pupil  of  Abraham.  There  seem  to  have  been  two 
persons  named  Zoroaster ;  the  first,  the  founder  of  this  ancient 
religion,  and  of  whom  are  recorded  miracles  and  prophecies; 
the  second,  a  reformer  of  that  religion,  who  lived  in  the  time 
of  Darius  Hystaspes.  The  doctrine  of  Zoroaster  teaches  that 
the  world  was  created  in  six  days,  that  at  the  beginning  God 
created  a  man  and  a  woman,  that  there  have  been  several  ter- 
restrial paradises,  one  universal  deluge,  one  Moses  and  one 
Solomon.  All  this,  however,  the  second  Zoroaster  may  have 
taken  from  the  history  of  the  Jews.  Tliey  hold  the  doctrine 
of  two  opposite  principles  or  spirits,  whom  they  call  Ormusd 
ind  Ahriman,  a  good  and  an  evil,  who  divide  -between  them 
the  government  of  the  universe ;  but  that  finally  tlie  good  will 
prevail  over  the  evil.  This  Ormusd  is  the  true  God,  called  by 
the  Arabians  Allah,  the  author  of  all  good;  and  Ahriman  rs 
the  Eblis  of  the  Arabians,  the  devil,  the  author  of  all  evil. 
These  doctrines  of  Zoroaster  are  still  held  in  Persia  by  the 
Magians  and  Guebras,  who  are  worshippers  of  fire  and  of  the 
Bun,  and  have  never  submitted  to  the  religion  of  Mahomet. 


MAA 


DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE, 


245 


Persian  Ladies  travellinj; 


In  their  national  character  the  Persians  were  warlike ;  they 
were  early  taught  to  ride,  and  to  handle  the  bow,  and  were 
inured  to  bear  the 'toils  and  fatigues  of  a  military  life.  Their 
national  valour,  however,  soon  degenerated,  and  their  wani 
of  employment  at  home,  and  their  indulgence  in  luxury,  ren- 
derd  them  unfit  for  war.  In  the  reign  of  Xerxes,  when  the 
empire  was  in  its  most  flourishmg  state,  a  small  number  of 
Greeks  was  able  to  repel  an  almost  innumerable  army  of 
Persians. 

The  climate  of  this  country  is  various.  The  mountainous 
parts  are  cold  and  dry ;  but  in  the  south,  from  the  Persian 
Gulf  to  the  mouth  of  the  Indus,  the  heat  in  summer  is  exces- 
sive. In  the  regions  around  Shiraz,  the  climate  is  said  to  be 
delightful,  and  the  extremes  of  heat  and  cold  unknown.  Many 
parts  of  the  country  are  fertile,  and  produce  grain,  fruits,  and 
wine.  The  government  is  an  absolute  monarchy,  the  lives 
and  estates  of  the  people  being  entirely  at  the  disposal  of  the 
reigning  prince.  The  Persians  are  generally  handsome  and 
well  shaped,  and  their  mamiers  very  different  from  the  Turks, 
whom  they  hold  in  great  abhorrence,  esteeming  Jews  and 
Christians  much  superior  to  them,  and  much  nearer  salvation. 
Though  Mahometans,  like  the  Turks,  they  are  of  the  sect  of 
Ali,  between  which,  and  the  sect  of  Omar,  to  which  the  Turks 
belong,  there  exists  all  the  enmity  of  sectarian  prejudice  and 
fanatical  rancour.  While  a  rude  and  insolent  demeanour 
towards  foreigners  and  Christians,  marks  the  Turkish  charae- 
V  2 


246 


SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 


PER 


ter,  the  Persians  are  courteous  to  strangers,  and  free  from  those 
religious  prejudices  so  prevalent  in  olher  Mahometan  coun- 
tries. They  are  hospitable  to  travellers,  are  fond  of  inquiring 
after  the  manners  and  customs  of  Europe,  and  in  return  readily 
afford  information  respecting  their  own  country.  The  Persians 
excel  in  poetry :  astrologers  are  said  to  be  in  great  reputation 
among  them.  Tlie  art  of  printing  has  not  yet  been  introduced 
into  this  country,  but  they  excel  in  writing,  having  eight  dif- 
ferent hands,  and  their  manuscripts  are  very  beautiful.  They 
write  like  the  Arabs  and  other  eastern  nations,  from  right  to  left. 

Ancient  medals  of  Persia  are  yet  in  existence,  which  bear  the  figure 
of  a  ram,  as  the  emblem  ol"  the  Pei-sian  nation,  and  prove  that  Daniel 
employed  the  proper  type  of  Persian  dominion,  when  predicting  its 
overthrow  by  the  single-horned  goat  of  Macedonia.  Tliis  ram  had  two 
horns,  "one  of  which  was  higher  than  the  olher,  and  the  higher  came 
up  last."  (Dan.  viii.  3.)  These  were  the  kingdoms  of  iMedia  and  Persia, 
united  under  Cyrus,  of  which  the  Persian  exceeded  in  power. 

No.  1.  An  engraving  from 
an  ancient  gem,  representing 
the  appropriate  symbols  of 
Persia  and  Macedonia,  under 
the  figures  of  a  ram,  and  a 
goat  with  one  horn.  This  gem 
was  probably  engraved  in  the 
time  of  Alexander  the  Great, 
and  denotes  the  union  of  Per- 
sia and  Macedonia  under  the 
same  empire.  We  offer  it  as 
affording  a  remarkable  illus- 
tration of  the  emblems  em- 
ployed by  Daniel  the  prophet, 
to  signify  those  two  kingdoms. 
No.  2. 


PHE 


DICTIONARY   OP   THE   BIBLE. 


34T 


No.  2.  A  representation  of  the  ancient  Persian  deity  Anammelech, 
the  king  of  the  clouds,  the  "god  of  Sepharvaim,"  (2  Kings  xvii.  31.)  who 
is  represented  in  conversation  with  a  human  person,  apparently  of  high 
rank  and  office  ;  and  is  probably  intended  to  signify  an  appearance  of 
the  deity,  come  down  from  the  sun,  to  commune  with  one  of  his  Avor- 
shippers.  The  figure  of  the  sun,  and  of  the  altar,  seem  to  confirm  this 
supposition. 

T\T^    Q  1 

No.  3.  A  figure  sculp^ 
tured  at  the  entrance 
of  the  palace  at  Perse- 
polis,  and  yet  existing 
there.  It  has  the  an- 
cient cherubic  form, 
as  represented  attend- 
ing on  majesty;  name- 
ly, the  human  head, 
the  eagle's  wings,  and 
the  body  and  legs  of 
the  ox.  This  appear? 
to  confirm  the  idea 
which  we  have  else- 
where noticed,  that 
the  cherubic  figure  was  not  peculiar  to  the  Hebrews,  but  existed  also  in 
other  eastern  nations. 

Pethor,  the  city  of  Balaam.     See  Pari  I.  p.  54. 
Pharathoni,  a  city  of  Ephraim,  (1  Mace.  ix.  50.)  called 
Pirathon.  Judges  xii.  15. 

Pharpar,  or  Pharphar,  a  river  of  Syria,  near  Damascus, 
wliich  unites  with  the  Abana,  called  by  the  Greeks  Chry- 
sorrhoas,  and  now  named  the  Barrady.     See  Ahana. 

PHE^'ICE,  a  port  in  the  south-west  of  the  island  of  Crete, 
where  St.  Paul,  in  his  voyage  to  Rome,  advised  the  ship's 
crew  to  spend  the  winter,  because  the  season  was  too  far 
advanced  to  pursue  their  voyage  with  safety ;  (Acts  xxvii.) 
but  neglecting  his  advice,  they  were  shipwrecked  at  Melita. 
Phenicia,  or  Phanicia,  a  provmce  of  Syria,  on  the  coast 
of  the  Mediterranean,  the  boundaries  of  which  appear  to  have 
varied  at  diiterent  times ;  by  some  writers  appearing  to  extend 
from  Orthosia  as  far  south  as  Pelusium  on  the  borders  of 
Egypt;  and  by  others  its  southern  limit  has  been  Mount  Car- 
mel  and  Ptolemais.  After  the  conquest  of  the  Land  of  Ca- 
naan by  the  Hebrews,  the  limits  of  Phenicia  v/ere  narrow, 
and  it  had  nothing  of  the  country  of  the  Philistines,  who 
occupied  the  country  from  Mount  Carmel  to  the  borders  of 
Egypt.  Neither  could  it  then  have  extended  far  inland,  for 
the  Israelites,  having  possession  of  Galilee,  confined  the  Phe- 
nicians  to  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean. 


^48  SCRirTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  PHI 

According-  to  Herodotus,  the  Phenicians  were  seated  on  the' 
Red  Sea  before  they  came  to  the  Mediterranean,  where  they 
addicted  themselves  to  navigation  and  commerce.  Justin 
also  says,  the  I'yrians  were  a  people  conducted  by  a  chief 
named  Pluenix,  who  left  their  native  land  on  account  of  the 
earthquakes  to  Vvhich  it  was  subject.  .They  first  settled  on 
the  Assyrian  lake,  sea  of  Tiberias,  and  afterwards  on  the  shore 
of  the  Mediterranean,  where  they  built  a  city  whicli  tliey 
named  Sidona. 

The  Phenicians  preserved  their  independence,  not  only 
under  Joshua,  but  also  under  David,  Solomon,  and  the  other 
kings  of  the  Jewish  nation.  They  were,  hovvever,  subdued 
by  the  kings  of  Assyria  and  Chaldea,  and  afterwards  were 
successively  under  the  dominion  of  the  Persians,  Greeks, 
Romans,  Saracens,  and  Turks ;  not  having  had  any  kings  of 
their  own  for  more  than  2000  years..  Their  chief  cities  were 
Sidon,  Tyre,  Ptolemais,  Berytus,  Tripolis,  Orthosia,  &c. 
They  were  naturally  an  industrious  people,  and  commerce 
and  navigation  were  among  them  in  the  most  flourishing 
state.  They  planted  many  colonies  on  the  shores  of  the 
Mediterranean,  particularly  at  Carthage  and  Utica  in  Africa, 
Marseilles  in  France,  and  severaj  places  in  Spain,  both  witliin 
and  without  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar.  Their  commerce, 
besides  extending  to  all  parts  of  the  Euxine  and  the  Mediter- 
ranean, reached  even  to  the  British  isles,  and  to  the  shores 
of  the  Baltic.  TJie  ships  of  Solomon  were  navigated  by 
Phenicians.  They  were  also  eminent  in  manufactures :  the 
purple  of  Tyre,  the  glass  of  Sidon,  their  fine  linens,  and  curi- 
ous specimens  of  art  in  metals  and  wood,  gave  them  such  a 
superiority  over  the  manufactures  of  other  nations,  that  among 
the  ancients,  whatever  was  elegant,  great,  or  pleasing,  either 
in  apparel  or  domestic  utensils,  received  the  epithet  of  Sido- 
nian.  The  language  of  the  Phenicians  appears  to  have  had 
little  affinity  to  tlie  other  oriental  tongues  used  in  Arabia, 
Syria,  &c.  It  v/as  a  dialect  of  the  Hebrew,  the  same  as  that 
of  the  ancient  Canaanites,  and  their  letters  or  characters  very 
nearly  resembled  t'lose  of  the  Samaritans.  Their  letters 
were  the  same  in  number  as  the  Hebrew,  but  their  form  was 
larger,  and  they  were  more  conformable  to  those  of  very  an- 
cient Greek  inscriptions. 

Philadelphia,  a  city  of  Lydia  in  Asia  Minor,  27  miles 
south-east  of  Sardis,  and  40  from  Smyrna.  Its  church  seems 
to  have  been  noted,  in  gospel  times,  for  the  purity  of  its  faitli 


PHI  •     DICTIONARY   OF   THE    BIBLE.  249 

and  practice ;  and  in  the  address  to  this  church,  (Rev.  iii.  7.) 
it  is  commended  for  its  zeal,  and  not  blamed  for  any  vice. 
Like  the  other  cities  of  this  country,  Philadelphia  has  under- 
gone many  changes  and  revolutions.  It  was  named  from  its 
founder  Attalus  Philadelphus,  brother  of  Eumenes,  king  of 
Pergamus.  In  the  times  of  the  Greek  empire,  it  was  fre- 
quently besieged  in  the  wars  with  the  Saracens  and  Turks ; 
and  in  1391  Ihis  city  singly  refused  to  admit  Bajazet ;  but 
wantmg  provisions,  was  forced  to  capitulate.  It  was  once 
well  fortified,  but  has  sufiered  much  from  earthquakes,  and 
many  parts  of  the  city  wall  are  yet  standing,  having  large 
gaps  rent  in  them  by  the  violent  concussions  of  the  earth.  It 
is  yet  a  town  of  considerable  extent,  and  being  situated  or 
one  of  the  principal  roads  to  Smyrna,  is  much  frequented, 
especially  by  Armenian  merchants.  Among  the  inhabitants 
of  this  place  are  many  Greek  Christians,  who  live  in  friendly 
intercourse  with  the  Turks,  and  have  twelve  churches,  and  a 
bishop. 

PhiladelpJiia,  a  city  east  of  Jordan,  so  called  by  the  Greeks; 
being  the  same  as  Rabbath,  the  ancient  capital  of  the  Am- 
monites. 

Philippi,  a  city  of  Macedonia,  so  called  from  Philip,  king 
of  Macedon,  who  repaired  and  beautified  it,  with  the  design 
of  making  it  a  barrier  against  the  Thracians.  Its  former  name 
was  Dathos.  In  process  of  time  it  became  a  Roman  colony, 
and  was  famous  for  two  great  battles  fought  near  it,  one 
between  Julius  Ceesar  and  Pompey,  and  the  other  between 
Augustus  and  Antony,  on  one  side,  and  Cassius  and  Brutus 
on  the  other.  St.  Paul  visited  Philippi,  and  there  converted 
several  people;  he  also  cured  a  servant  maid,  who  had  a 
familiar  spirit,  by  which  she  foretold  future  events.  Certain 
persons  having  stirred  up  the  whole  city  against  Paul,  he  was 
imprisoned ;  but  having  been  informed  that  he  was  a  Roman 
citizen,  the  magistrates  liberated  him,  and  made  an  apology 
for  their  ill  treatment.  (x\cts  xvi.)  The  Philipp.ians  appear 
to  have  been  afterwards  very  grateful  for  the  grace  received 
from  God,  by  the  ministry  of  St.  PauL  They  assisted  him  on 
several  occasions,  and  he  appears  to  have  regarded  them  with 
great  affection,  as  his  epistle  to  them  is,  of  all  his  letters,  the 
most  pathetic,  and  full  of  kind  and  affectionate  expressions. 
This  city  is  now  a  scene  of  ruins ;  few  inhabitants  remain ; 
but  the  ruins  of  temples,  palaces,  and  other  magnificent 
edifices  of  m.arble,  attest  its  former  splendour. 


250  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  PHR 

Philistines,  a  people  inhabiting  the  western  part  of  Ca- 
naan along  the  coast ;  having  five  lordships  or  governments, 
named  from  their  principal  towns,  Gaza,  Askelon,  Ashdod, 
Gath,  and  Ekron.  The  Philistines  were  descendants  of  the 
Casluhim  and  Caphtorim,  of  the  family  of  Misraim,  the  son  of 
Ham,  and  so  brother  to  Canaan,  the  father  of  the  Canaanites. 
(Gen.  X.  6.  14.)  We  learn  also  from  Gen.  x.  19.  tliat  the 
coast  from  Sidon  to  Gaza  originally  belonged  to  the  Canaan- 
ites; whence  it  follows  that  the  Philistines  must  have  become 
masters  of  it  by  dispossessing  the  Canaanites,  the  original  in- 
habitants. This  is  probable,  as  the  Philistines,  being  descend- 
ed from  Misraim,  were  settled  in  Egypt,  or  the  parts  adjoin- 
ing on  the  south-west  of  Canaan.  (See  Casluhim  and  Caph- 
torim, Part  I.  p.  26.)  Some  writers  have  conjectured  that 
the  Philistines  were  a  branch  of  the  Palli,  or  shepherds 
who  invaded  Egypt  from  the  east,  in  a  remote  period  of 
antiquity ;  and  that  a  colony  of  them  occupied  the  southern 
coast  of  Judea.  The  time  of  their  coming  into  the  Land  of 
Canaan  is  not  known,  but  they  appear  to  have  been  there  a 
long  time  before  Abi-aham  came  thither  in  the  year  of  the 
w^orld  2083,  as  they  then  had  kings,  and  were:  in  possession 
of  several  considerable  cities.  (Gen.  xx.  2.  xxvi.  1.)  On  the 
conquest  of  the  country  by  Joshua,  they  were'  not  driven  out, 
and  were  almost  constantly  at  war  with  the  Israelites;  and 
thougk  subdued*  by  David,  and  k(?pt  in  subjection  by  some  of 
the  succeeding  kings,  yet  they  frequently  revolted,  and  con- 
tinued to  harass  the  Hebrew  government  as  long  as  it  con- 
tinued; being  "thorns  in  their  sides,"  as  liad  been -foretold  as 
a  punishment  for. their  disobedience.  (Judges  ii.  3.)  After 
the  Hebrews  had  been  carried  into  captivity,  the  Philistines 
probably  took  possession  of  a  great  part  of  the  country,  and 
appear  to  have  become  so  considerable,  that  from  them  the 
Holy  Land  was  called  by  the  Greeks,  Palestine,  under  which 
name  it  frequently  occurs  in  Greek  and  Latin  writers. 

Phrygia,  a  region  in  Asia  JMinor,  bounded  north  by  Bithy- 
nia,  east  by  Galatia  and  Lycaonia,  south  by  Pisidia  and  Lycia, 
and  west  by  Caria,  I-ydia,  and  JMysia.  Its  chief  cities  were 
Laodicea,  Colossnc,  and  Ilierapolis.  Phrygia  is  frequently 
mentioned  in  the  New  Testament,  as  St.  Paul  travelled  much 
in  it,  and  established  many  churches.  This  country  was  dU 
vided  into  Phrygia  the  greater,  called  also  Pacatiana,  and 
Phrygia  the  lesser.  According  to  Josephus  and  other  writers, 
it  was  peopled  by  the  descendants  of  Togarmah,  tlie  son  ot 


PON  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  251 

Gomer,  and  grandson  of  Japliet ;  and  the  Phrygians  accounted 
themselves  as  one  of  the  most  ancient  nations  in  the  world. 
They  were  of  a  servile  disposition,  and  could  only  he  kept  to 
their  duty  by  beating ;  whence  came  the  proverb,  se7'0  sapiunt 
Phryges,  the  Phrygians  are  wise  too  late ;  or  as  Cicero  says, 
made  wise  only  by  suffermgs.  For  2500  years  they  have 
been  subject  to  the  Lydians,  the  Persians,  the  Greeks,  the 
Romans,  and  the  Turks,  the  latter  of  whom  still  hold  them 
in  subjection. 

Phut,  the  son  of  Ham,  whose  posterity  settled  m  Africa. 
See  Part  I.  p.  26. 

PiBESETH,  a  city  of  Egypt,  situated  south  of  Sin  or  Pelu- 
sium,  and  on  the  same  branch  of  the  Nile.  (Ezek.  xxx.  17.) 
It  was  also  called  Bubastis,  which  word  signifies  a  she  cat, 
under  which  form  Diana  was  worshipped  in  Egypt,  But  others 
say  that  it  signifies  also  a  cow,  and  that  the  city  was  built  in 
honour  of  Isis,  who  was  here  worshipped  under  that  form. 

Pi-HAHiROTH,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites,  near  the 
Red  Sea.  See  Part  I.  p.  43. 

PiRATHON,  a  city  of  Ephraim,  tlie  native  place  of  Abdon,  a 
judge  of  Israel,  who  was  buried  there.  (Judges  xii.  15.)  It  is 
called  Pharathoni,  in  1  TJacc.  ix.  50. 

PiSGAH,  a  celebrated  mountain,  east  of  Jordan.  See  Part  L 
p.  49. 

PisiDiA,  a  province  of  Asia  Minor,  bounded  north  and 
north-east  by  Phrygia  and  Lycaonia,  south  by  Pamphylia,  and 
west  by  Phrygia.  Its  prmcipal  city  was  Antioch,  where  Paul 
preached.  (Acts  xiii.  14.  xiv.  24.)  This  country  was  once 
flourishing  and  populous,  and  Christianity  was  maintained 
here  for  seven  or  eight  centuries. 

PisoN,  one  of  the  four  rivers  of  Eden.  See  Part  I.  p.  11. 

PiTHOM,  one  of  the  cities  built  for  Pharaoh,  by  the  children 
of  Israel,  while  in  Egypt.  See  Part  I.  p.  40. 

PoxTUS,  an  extensive  province  in  Asia  Minor,  on  the  south- 
em  shore  of  the  Euxine,  or  Black  Sea,  called  here  the  Pontic 
Sea ;  having  Colchis  and  Armenia  on  the  east,  Cappadocia 
south,  and  Paphlagonia  and  Galatia  west.  Christianity  was 
early  established  in  this  country,  as  we  find  the  first  epistle 
of  Peter  addressed  to  the  faithful  of  Pontus,  and  the  neigh- 
bouring provinces.  (1  Peter  i.  1.)  This  country  revolted  from 
the  Persians,  and  became  an  independent  kingdom ;  being  in 
its  most  flourishing  state  under  Mithridates  the  Great.  It  was 
afl;erwards  conquered  by  Julius  Caesar,  and  became  a  Roman 


252  gCRIPTtJRE  GEOGRAPHY.  PTO 

province,  though  it  was  often  governed  by  monarchs  tributary 
to  Rome.  Under  tlie  emperors  a  regular  governor  was  al- 
ways appointed  over  it.  In  this  province  was  the  city  of 
Cerasus,  from  which  cherries  were  first  brought  to  Europe, 
and  derived  their  name  cerusa,  Latin,  cerises,  French,  from 
the  name  of  the  city. 

Pools  of  Solomon,  See  BetJilehem. 

Potter's  Field,  also  called  Aceldama,  the  field  of  blood, 
(Matt,  xxvii.  7,  8.  Acts  i.  19.)  a  field  purchased  with  the  sil- 
ver whicn  had  been  given  as  the  price  of  our  Saviour's  blood. 
It  lay  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Zion,  on  the  west  side  of  the  val- 
ley of  Hinnom,  and  is  yet  shown  at  Jerusalem.  It  is  a  smal\ 
piece  of  ground,  not  more  than  thirty  yards  long,  and  about 
half  as  broad.  There  is  yet  standing  on  it  a  square  fabric, 
built  for  a  charnel-house,  into  which  tlie  corpses  are  let  down 
from  the  top.  The  Armenian  Christians  now  possess  this 
fourying-place,  for  which  they  pay  the  Turks  a  rent  of  one 
eequin  a  day. 

Ptolemais,  originally  called  Accho,  a  maritime  city  in  the 
tribe  of  Asher,  north  of  Mount  Carmel,  27  miles  south  of 
Tyre,  and  70  north  of  Jerusalem.  The  original  inhabitants 
of  this  place  were  not  driven  out  by  the  Israelites.  Judges  i.  31. 
This  city  was  afterwards  called  Ptolemais,  from  Ptolemy, 
king  of  Egypt,  who  enlarged  and  strengthened  it;  but  after 
falling  under  the  dominion  of  the  Turks,  it  followed  the  ex- 
ample of  many  other  cities,  which,  in  like  circumstances,  cast 
off  their  Greek  name,  and  took  one  similar  to  the  ancient 
Hebrew  appellation,  being  called  x^ccajA  era,  or  Acre.  It  was 
visited  by  the  apostle  Paul,  (Acts  xxi.  7.)  being  then  known 
by  its  Greek  name,  Ptolemais. 

The  situation  of  Accho  was  very  advantageous;  on  the 
north  and  east  it  was  encompassed  by  a  spacious  and  fertile 
plain,  on  the  west  by  the  Mediterranean,  and  on  the  south  by 
a  large  bay  which  extended  from  the  city  to  ]\Iount  Carmel. 
It  was  strongly  fortified,  and  had  a  convenient  harbour.  This 
city  has  many  times  changed  masters,  having  been  succes- 
sively under  the  dominion  of  the  Romans,  the  Saracens,  the 
Christians,  and  the  Turks.  During  the  time  of  the  crusades 
it  was  the  scene  of  bloody  contests  between  the  Ciiristians 
and  the  infidels.  It  was  attacked  by  the  fleets  and  armies  of 
the  Crusaders  in  the  year  1189,  and  after  a  siege  of  two  years 
was  taken  by  the  combined  forces  of  Philip  of  France,  and 
Richard  of  England ;  but  not  till  100,000  Christians  had  fallen 


PTO 


DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


253 


in  battle,  and  a  greater  number  perished  by  disease.  Under 
the  dominion  of  the  Crusaders,  it  was  much  strengthened  and 
improved.  The  tutelar  saint  of  the  city  was  St.  John,  whence 
it  has  been  sometimes-  called,  St.  John  iVAcre. 

In  the  year  1291,  this  place  was  invested  by  the  Turks, 
with  a  powerful  army.  After  a  siege  of  thirty-three  days,  the 
walls  and  towers  were  demolished,  the  city  was  taken,  and 
60,000  Christians  devoted  to  death  or  slavery.  The  town  was 
entirely  laid  in  ruins  by  the  Turks,  and  remained  almost  de- 
solate till  about  the  year  1750,  when  it  was  again  fortified  by 
Daher,  an  Arabian  chief.  Here  he  m_aintained  his  indepen- 
dence against  the  whole  force  of  the  Ottoman  empire,  until 
basely  assassinated  in  1775.  It  was  afterwards  still  farther 
strengthened  with  fortifications  by  the  famous  Djezzar  Pacha, 
who  was  assisted  by  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  an  English  officer,  in 
his  defence  against  Bonaparte.  Its  inhabitants  are  about  40,000 
there  are  here  six  Christian  churches.  The  Jews  also  have 
a  synagogue.  The  streets  are  very  narrow.  The  port  is  one  of 
the  best  on  the  coast ;  and  the  trade  is  considerable. 

No.  1.  Shows  the  head  of 
Alexander  on  one  side  ;  and. 
on  the  other,  the  inscription 
Alexaxdrou,  with  the  two 
first  Phenician  letters  of  the 
name  of  the  city,  Ak  or  Ok, 
for  Accho,  also  tlie  date, 
supposed  to  be  26,  i.  e.  16  or 
17  years  after  the  death 
of  Alexander.  This  medal 
was  probably  struck  on  the 
occasion  of  a  festival  in 
honour  of  Alexander;  such  worship  was  paid  to  him  while  living,  and 
was  long  continued  after  his  death. 

No.  2.  A  medal 
of  Claudius,  with 
the  ceremony  of 
driving  the  oxen, 
which  was  part 
of  that  constitute- 
ing  a  colony.  The 
numbers  of  the 
Roman  legions  es- 
tablished here  and 
in  Syria,  are  mark- 
ed on  the  ensigns 
But  the  most  re- 
markable particu* 
lar  for  our  observation  is,  that  Claudius  is  called  Divos,  a  deity,  during 

w 


254  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPinr.  RAB 

his  life-time.  This  is  uncommon,  but  shows  to  ^vhat  a  height  of 
flattery  these  Asiatics  had  attained.  The  same  title  is  given  to  Herod, 
in  person,  Acts  xii.  22. 

PuL,  or  Phul,  (Isa.  Ixvi.  19.)  supposed  to  bo  an  i:^land  in 
the  Nile,  called  Philce,  not  far  from  Syene.  It  is  probable 
that  the  people  called  Pul,  in  Scripture,  inhabited  not  only 
this  island,  but  also  the  adjacent  country.  On  the  island  are 
ruins  of  very  noble  and  extensive  temples,  built  by  the  ancient 
Egyptians.  ThePhul  are  probably  represented  in  Egypt  to 
this  day,  by  the  Pholahs  or  Fellahs,  who  are  mostly  husband- 
men and  cultivators  of  the  soil. 

PuNON,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  desert,  east 
of  Edom.  (Numb,  xxxiii.  42.)  This  name  is  also  written 
Phunon,  and  Phinon,  and  may  have  received  its  name  from 
Phinon,  a  duke  of  Edom.  (Gen.  xxxvi.  41.)  Eusebius  calls 
the  place  Phanos,  and  says  there  were  mines  of  metals  there. 

PuTEOLi,  a  city  in  Italy,  where  Paul  stayed  a  week  in  his 
journey  to  RoiBe.  (Acts  xxviii.  13.)  It  is  now  called  Pozzuoli, 
and  is  situated  near  Naples;  being*  yet  famous  for  its  natural 
hot  baths,  in  which  it  is  said  the  water  is  of  sufficient  heat  to 
boil  eggs.  These  hot  springs  are  many  in  number,  and  were 
celebrated  in  the  time  of  Nero.  They  are  eighteen  miles 
from  Mount  Vesuvius,  and  probably  receive  their  heat  from 
the  same  subterranean  fires  wiiich  produce  that  volcano. 
From  these  baths,  or  pits  of  water,  in  Latin  jmtci,  the  town 
probably  took  its  name  of  Puteoli.  It  has  suffered  much  from 
volcanoes  and  earthquakes;  but  vast  ruins  are  yet  visible, 
among  whicli  are  the  baths  of  Nero,  and  Cicero's  villa ;  also 
a  temple  of  Jupiter  Serapis,  an  interesting  monument  of  an- 
tiquity, being  in  a  style  of  architecture  different  from  the 
Greek  and  Roman  temple.?,  and  built  in  the  manner  of  the 
Asiatics,  probably  by  Egyptian  and  Asiatic  merchants  settled 
at  this  place,  which  was  once  a  great  emporium  of  com- 
merce. 


R. 

Raamaii,  a  place  (Ezek.  xxvii.  22.)  probably  named  from 
Raamah,  the  son  of  Cush,     See  Part  I.  p.  24. 

Raamses,  a  city  of  Egypt,  (Exod.  i.  11.)  supposed  to  be  the 
game  as  Ramcses, 

Rabbaii,  or  Rabbath,  sometimes  called  Rabbath-Ammon, 
the  capital  city  of  the  Ammonites,  situated  east  of  Jordan, 
and  not  far  from  the  head  of  the  river  Anion.  (Deut.  iii.  11. 


MAO  DICTIONARY    OF    THE    BIBLE.  256 

2  Sam.  xi.  1.)  It  was  taken  by  David,  (2  Sam.  xii.  29.)  and 
was  from  that  time  subject  to  the  kings  of  Israel,  until  the 
capture  of  the  tribes  cast  of  Jordan,  by  Tiglath-Pileser,  when 
the  Ammonites  practised  great  cruelties  against  the  few 
Hebrews  that  still  remained  in  that  country.  Hence  ^ve  find 
the  prophets  Jeremiah  and  Ezekiel  pronouncing  severely 
against  Rabbah.  It  was  taken  by  Ptolemy  Philadelphus, 
king  of  Egypt,  who  named  it  Philadelphia;  and  about  170 
years  before  Christ,  Avas  again  taken  by  Antiochus,  king  of 
Syria. 

Rabbath-moab,  the  capital  of  the  jMoabites,  called  also  Ar 
which  see. 

Rabbah,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  60.)  and  another  in 
Issachar,  written  Rabhith.  Josh.  xLx.  20. 

Rachal,  a  city  of  Judah.  1  Sam.  xxx.  29. 

Rages,  a  city  of  ]\Iedia,  (Tobit  i.)  near  which  were  pro- 
bably situated  the  plains  of  Ragau,  mentioned  in  Judith  i.  5, 
&c.  It  is  conjectured  that  this  city  was  built  by  Reu,  the 
son  of  Peleg ;  as  tJie  sons  of  Arphaxad,  of  whom  came  Peleg, 
the  father  of  Reu,  settled  in  these  and  the  adjacent  parts ;  and 
Reu  is  translated  by  the  LXX,  Ragau.  In  the  beginning  of 
the  book  of  Judith,  too,  we  have  Arphaxad  mentioned  as 
reigning-  over  the  Medes  in  Ecbatana,  that  name  probably 
having  been  given  to  this  king  in  honour  and  memory  of 
their  great  ancestor,  Arphaxad,  the  son  of  Shem,  and  grand- 
son of  Noah. 

This  is  supposed  to  be  the  city  called  at  present  Rey,  in- 
habited by  a  polite  and  commercial  people,  who  manufacture 
fine  linen,  cotton,  and  camblets,  which  are  sent  to  all  parts  of 
the  world.  The  Persians  call  it  the  market  of  the  universe  ; 
and  if  so  in  the  days  of  Tobit,  it  is  no  wonder  that  Jews  were 
foimd  there. 

Rahab,  tliat  tract  of  Lower  Egypt  called  Delta  by  the 
Greeks.  Psalm  Ixxxvii.  4.  Ixxxix.  10.  Isa.  li.  9. 

Rakkath,  a  city  of  Naphtali,  (Josh.  xix.  35.)  thought  to  be 
the  same  as  Tiberias,  on  the  Sea  of  Galilee. 

Rakkon,  a  cit}^  of  Dan.  Josh,  xix.  46. 

Ramah,  a  city  of  Benjamin,  not  far  from  Gibeon.  (Josh, 
xviii.  25.  Judges  iv.  5.  xix.  13.)  It  was  situated  on  the  road 
from  Jerusalem  to  Samaria,  and  was  rebuilt  and  fortified  by 
Baasha,  king  of  Israel,  (1  Kings  xv.  17.)  that  he  might  pre- 
vent commmiication  with  the  king  of  Judah. 

Ramah,  in  Mount  Ephraim,  called  also  Ramathaim-zophim.. 


256  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  RED 

the  place  where  Samuel,  was  born,  (1  Sam.  i.  1.  19.)     See 
Arimathea. 

liamah,  a  city  in  the  borders  of  Asher  and  Naphtali,  (Josh, 
xix.  29.  36.)  though  it  is  probable  there  was  a  place  of  this 
name  in  each  of  these  tribes. 

R AMESES,  a  city  of  Egypt,  probably  m  the  Land  of  Goshen. 
See  Part  1.  p.  39. 

Ramoth,  a  city  m  the  tribe  of  Gad,  called  also  Ramoth- 
Gilead,  and  Ramoth-Mizpeh,  from  its  situation  near  the  moun- 
tains of  Gilead,  and  the  land  of  Mizpeh.  (Josh.  xxi.  38.  xiii. 
26.)  This  place  is  fi-equently  mentioned  in  Scripture,  par- 
ticularly in  the  books  of  Kings  and  Clironicles.  It  was 
situated  east  of  Jordan,  near  the  brook  Jabbok. 

Ramoth-negebh,  Ramolh  of  the  south,  a  city  of  Simeon. 
Josh.  xix.  8. 

Raphon,  a  place  east  of  Jordan,  in  tlie  neighbourhood  of 
Carnaim,  and  not  far  from  the  brook  Jabbok.  Here  Judas 
Maccabeus  had  his  camp  before  he  obtained  the  victory  over 
Timotheus.  1  Mace.  v.  37. 

Red  Sea,  a  brancli  of  the  Arabian  Sea,  or  of  tliat  part  of 
the  Indian  Ocean  between  the  coast  of  Africa  and  India,  ex- 
tending towards  the  Mediterranean,  and  interposing  between 
Egypt  on  the  v/est,  and  Arabia  on  the  east.  Its  Hebrew 
name  is  Jam-Suph,  the  weedy  sea,  from  tlie  abundance  of 
sea-weed  found  in  it.  The  country  of  Edom  was  adjacent  to 
this  sea,  and  the  name  Edom,  in  Hebrew,  signifies  red,  being 
a  name  given  to  Esau  after  he  had  sold  hjs  birthright  for  a 
mess  of  red  pottage.  Hence  ifcrwas  called. the  Sea  of- Edom.- 
which  in  process  of  time  became  the  Erythraean  Sea,  cfytknis, 
in  Greek,  denoting  red.  Hence  the  Latms,  according  to  the 
signification  of  the  Greek  name,  called  it  Rubriim  Mare,  and 
we  from  them  call  it  the  Red  Sra.  The  Arabs  call  it  Bahr 
el  Colzum,  the  sea  of  drowninc^  or  overiohelming,  probably 
in  memory  of  tlie  destruction  of  the  Egyptians  wlio  pursued 
the  Israelites.  We  have  already  mentioned  the  miraculous 
passage  of  the  Israelites  through  this  sea,  (Part  1.  p.  43.)  and 
have  related  a  tradition  spoken  of  by  Diodorus,  as  existing 
among  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  adjacent  regions.  We 
Cannot  suppose  this  pagan  is  writing  in  favour  of  revelation. 
He  knew  not  jMoses,  neither  says  he  a  word  about  Pharaoh 
and  bis  host;  and  yet  he  records  the  miracle  of  the  division  of 
the  sea  in  strong  and  plain  terms,  and  from  tlie  moutlis  of 
unbiassed  and  undesignihg  pagans. 


REU  DIOTIONxVRY    OF   THE   BIBLE.  2-57 

With  respect  to  the  widtli  of  the  Red  Sea  where  the  Israel- 
ites crossed  it,  modern  travellers  describe  it  to  be  about  twelve 
miles.  One  of  them  says,  "  From  the  fountains  of  Moses, 
which  are  seven  or  eight  hours  journey  southward  from  Suez, 
may  now  be  seen  the  aperture  of  the  mountain  on  the  west- 
ern side  of  the  sea,  through  which  Israel  passed  into  the 
water.  This  aperture  is  west-south-west  from  the  fountains ; 
the  breadth  of  the  sea  there  is  about  four  or  five  hours 
travel." 

The  length  of  the  Red  Sea,  from  the  Strait  of  Babelman- 
del  to  Suez,  is  about  1400  miles,  and  its  general  breadth  about 
120.  It  terminates  towards  the  north  in  two  arms  or 
branches ;  the  Gulf  of  Elath  on  the  east,  and  that  of  Suez  on 
tlie  west,  of  which  the  latter  is  much  the  longest,  and  was 
the  branch  crossed  by  the  Israelites.  The  tide  here  is  said 
never  to  rise  more  than  three  feet  and  a  half 

Rehob,  two  cities  in  the  tribe  of  Asher  are  mentioned  by 
this  name.  (Josh.  xix.  23.  80.)  Th-ey  were  situated  in  the 
north,  and  near  them  in  the  adjoining  part  of  Syria,  was  pro- 
bably the  kingdom  of  Rehob,  mentioned  in  2  Sam.  x.  6.  8. 

Rehobotii,  an  ancient  city,  built  about  the  same  time  as 
Nineveh,  and  m  the  same  country.  It  is  uncertain  whether 
it  was  situated  on  the  Tigris  or  the  Euphrates.  A  city  of  this 
name  is  also  mentioned,  (Gen.  xxxvi.  37.)  where  Saul,  king 
of  Edom,  was  born.  It  is  not  known  whether  this  was  Reho- 
both  on  the  Euphrates,  or  a  place  of  that  name  on  a  river  of 
Edom.  Rehoboth  was  also  a  name  given  to  a  v/ell  which  was 
dug  by  Isaac,  near  Gerar.     Gen.  xxvi.  22. 

Rekem,  a  city  of  Benjamin.  Josh,  xviii.  27. 

Remeth,  a  city  of  Issachar ;  (Josh.  xix.  21.)  the  same  as 
Ramoth.  1  Chron.  vi.  73. 

Remmon,  (Josh.  xix.  7.)  See  Rimmon. 

Rephaim,  the  ancient  giants  of  Canaan.  See  Part  I.  p.  34. 

Rephidim,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilder 
ness.  See  Part  I.  p.  44. 

Resen,  an  ancient  city  of  Assyria,  between  Nineveh  and 
Calah.  (Gen.  x.  12.)  In  the  chronicle  of  Dionysius,  pa- 
triarch of  the  Jacobins,  A.  D.  772,  among  the  Ninevite  cities 
which  were  depopulated  by  the  Arabs,  we  find  Ressin,  which 
is  mentioned  with  other  cities  of  Assyria,  and  is  no  doubt  the 
Resen  of  Scripture. 

Reuben,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  L 
p.  67. 

W  2 


258  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  RHO 

Rezeph,  a  city  mentioned  in  2  Kings  xix.  12.  Ptolemy 
mentions  a  place  called  Rezipha,  in  Mesopotamia,  east  of  the 
Euphrates,  which  is  probably  the  same. 

Rhegium,  or  Rcg-ium,  a  maritime  city  of  Italy,  visited  by 
St.  Paul  on  his  voyag-e  to  Rome.  (Acts  xxviii.  13.)  This 
place  is  now  called"  Reggio,  and  is  in  the  kmgdom  of  Naples, 
on  the  Strait  of  Messina. 

Rhodes,  a  famous  island,  south  of  Caria,  in  Asia  Minor, 
visited  by  St.  Paul,  (x\cts  xxi.  1.)  and  accounted  in  dignity 
next  to  Cyprus  and  Lesbos,  among  the  Asiatic  isles,  being  40 
miles  long  and  15  broad.  The  Septuagmt  and  Samaritan 
bibles,  instead  of  Dodanim,  (Gen.  x.  4.)  read  Rhodanim.  St. 
Jerom,  Eusebius,  Isidore,  and  others,  follow  them,  and  think 
the  isle  of  Rhodes  was  originally  peopled  by  the  Rhodanim, 
or  posterity  of  Javan.  Most  ancient  copies  of  the  Scriptures, 
however,  agree  with  our  translation,  and  read  Dodanim.  From 
whatever  source  this  island  may  have  been  peopled,  it  is  cer- 
tain that  its  ancient  inhabitants  were  a  powerful  people,  ex- 
pert in  navigation,  and  a  formidable  maritune  power.  They 
were  called  by  the  Romans,  the  maritime  people ;  they  com- 
manded the  neighbouring  seas,  and  causes  relating  to  naval 
affairs  were  decided  according  to  the  laws  of  the  Rhodians. 

This  island  was  famed  for  a  prodigious  statue  of  brass,  call- 
ed the  Colossus,  wdiich  was  erected  standing  astride  over  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour,  so  that  the  ships  sailed  between  its 
legs.  It  was  seventy  cubits  high,  and  each  of  its  fingers  was 
said  to  be  as  large  as  a  common-sized  man.  On  account  of 
its  vast  bulk,  it  was  reckoned  one  of  the  seven  wonders  of  the 
world.  It  w^as  thrown  down  by  an  earthquake,  and  many 
years  after,  the  brass  of  which  it  was  made,  being  carried  by 
the  Saracens  to  Egypt,  w-as  enough  to  load  900  camels. 

The  people  of  Rhodes  maintained  a  long  contest  with  the 
Greeks,  but  having  applied  to  the  Romans  for  aid,  the  latter 
seized  the  island  for  themselves,  and  made  it  a  Roman  colony. 
In  A.  D.  1124,  it  was  taken  from  tlie  Saracens  by  the  Vene- 
tians, and  was  afterwards  taken  by  the  Turks,  wiio  in  their 
turn  were  driven  off  by  the  knights  of  St.  Jolm  of  Jerusalem. 
In  1522  it  was  attacked  by  Solyman,  with  300  ships,  and 
200,000  men,  and  surrendered  after  losing  90,000  of  its  peo- 
ple; the  loss  of  the  Turks  was  much  greater. 

The  soil  of  Rliodcs  is  fertile,  producing  delicious  wines  and 
rich  fruits,  and  its  climate  pleasant  and  liealthy.  Its  popula- 
tion is  about  36,000,  of  which  one-third  are  Greeks,  with  a 
few  Jev.'s. 


ROM  DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  259 

RiELAH,  a  city  of  Syria,  in  the  country  of  Hamath,  north 
of  Canaan.  Numb,  xxxiv.  11.  2  Kings  xxiii.  33. 

RiMMON,  a  city  of  Judah,  given  to  Simeon.  (Josh.  xv.  32. 
xix.  7.)  Also  the  name  of  a  rock  to  which  the  Benjamites 
retreated.  Judges  xx.  45.)     Also  a  valley.  Zech.  xiv.  10. 

RiMMON-METHOAR,  a  city  of  Zebulon,  (Josh.  xix.  13.)  call- 
ed Rimmon.  1  Chron.  vi.  77. 

RiMMON-PAREz,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the 
desert.  Numb,  xxxiii.  19. 

RissAH,  an  encampment  in  the  wilderness,  between  Libnah 
and  Kehelathah.  Numb,  xxxiii.  21. 

RiTHMAH,  a  station  of  Israel  in  the  desert,  near  Hazeroth. 
Numb,  xxxiii.  18. 

RoGEL,  a  fountain  near  Jerusalem.  The  name  im.porta 
treading,  and  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  fullers'  fountain, 
where  tliey  v/ashed  cloths  by  treading  them  with  their  feet. 
Josh.  XV.  7.     2  Sam.  xvii.  17. 

RoGELiM,  the  plural  of  Rogel,  a  city  of  Gilead,  apparently 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  IMahanaim.  2  Sam.  xvii.  27. 

Rome,  the  capital  of  Italy,  and  the  metropolis  of  the  Roman 
empire ;  founded  by  Romulus,  3252  years  after  the  creation 
of  the  world,  and  752  before  the  birth  of  Christ,  during  the 
reign  of  Jotham,  kuig  of  Judah.  The  history  of  the  city  of 
Rome,  and  of  the  Romans  as  a  people,  is  so  extensive  and  so 
generally  known,  that  we  have  no  occasion  to  introduce  it 
into  this  work ;  we  shall  merely  treat  of  those  parts  of  it 
w^hich  seem  to  be  immediately  connected  with  Scripture  his- 
tory. 

Rome  is  not  mentioned  in  the  Old  Testament;  though 
most  interpreters  believe  the  Roman  empire  is  referred  to  in 
Dan.  ii.  40.  under  the  name  of  the  kingdom  of  iron,  wdiich 
bruises  and  breaks  in  pieces  all  other  kingdom.s.  Also  by  the 
ships  of  Chittim,  (Dan.  xi.  29,  30.)  is  generally  understood  the 
Roman  fleet  by  which  Antiochus  was  obliged  to  desist  from 
his  designs  against  Egypt.  In  the  apocryphal  books  of  the 
Maccabees,  and  in  the  New  Testament,  Rome  and  its  people 
are  frequently  mentioned.  In  1  Mace.  viii.  1,  2,  &c.  it  is  said 
that  Judas,  having  heard  of  the  fame  of  the  Romans,  sent  two 
ambassadors  to  Rome,  who  were  well  received,  and  made  an 
alliance  with  the  Romans.  This  was  in  the  year  161  before 
Christ,  and  18  years  after,  this  alliance  was  renewed  by  Jona- 
than, the  brother  of  Judas  Maccabeus,  (1  Mace.  xii.  1,  2,  &c.) 
and  again  by  Simon  Maccabeus,  (xiv.  16.)  About  three  years 


260  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  SAL 

Defore  this,  Quintus  Memmius  arid  Titus  Manilius,  the  Ro- 
man legates,  (2  Mace.  xi.  34,  &c.)  being  sent  into  Syria  to 
settle  some  affairs  witli  the  king,  Antiochus  Eupatcr,  interest- 
ed themselves  in  promoting  the  tranquillity  of  the  Jews,  and 
wrote  to  them,  confirming  certain  favours,  and  requesting  to 
Know  what  further  they  desired. 

Of  the  wars  wliicli  afterwards  followed  between  the  Jews 
and  the  Romans,  of  the  capture  of  Jerusalem  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  temple,  as  well  as  the  subsequent  state  of  the 
country  under  the  Roman  government,  we  have  already 
treated  in  the  article  Judea. 

The  establishment  of  the  Christian  church  in  Rome  is 
ascribed  to  the  apostles  Peter  and  Paul.  It  is  thought  that 
Peter  was  led  thither  in  the  reign  of  Claudius;  and  Paul  was 
carried  there  as  a  prisoner,  where  he  afterwards  dwelt  and 
preached,  "two  whole  years,  no  man  forbidding  him."  (Acts 
xxviii.  30,  31.)  Here  he  afterwards  suffered  martyrdom, 
together  with  St.  Peter,  as  most  believe,  under  tlie  sanguinary 
reign  of  Nero.  After  the  death  of  tliese  eminent  apostles,  the 
Christian  church  continued  to  flourish  at  Rome,  though  fre- 
quently much  persecuted  by  some  of  the  cruel  and  wicked 
emperors  who  reigned  in  the  decline  of  the  Roman  empire. 
Others,  however,  among  whom  was  Adrian,  treated  them 
more  mildly.  Our  limits  forbid  us  to  trace  the  progress  of 
the  gospel  in  the  Roman  empire,  though  it  would  be  interest- 
ing to  recite  tiie  accounts  of  the  zeal  of  its  advocates,  and  the 
fortitude  of  its  martyrs;  and  to  mark  the  final  triumph  of 
(Christianity  over  the  absurd  rites  of  heathen  idolatry. 

RosH,  the  name  of  a  people.  The  Septuagint  and  other 
translations  of  the  Scriptures,  in  Ezek.  xxxviii.  2,  3.  xxxix.  1. 
call  Magog  the  cliief  prince  of  Rnsli,  Meshech,  and  Tubal. 
The  people  of  Rosh  are  placed  by  Bochart,  in  the  country  on 
the  A  raxes  between  the  Caspian  and  Black  seas;  and  from 
them  the  present  Russians  have  probably  derived  their  origin 
and  name. 


S. 

Sabeans,  a  people  of  Arabia.  (Isa.  xlv.  14.)     See  Sheba. 

Sabtah,  and  Sabtecha,  sons  of  Cush.  (Gen.  x.  7.)  See 
Part  I.  pp.  24,  25. 

Salamis,  a  considerable  city  in  the  island  of  Cyprus,  visited 
by  St.  Paul  and  Barnabas.  (Acts  xiii.  5.)  This  city  gave 
name  to  the  wliole  eastern  tract  of  tlie  island,  opposite  to  the 


SAM  DICTIONARY  OF   THE   BIBLE.  261 

coast  of  Syria.  It  was  afterwards  the  see  of  the  primate  of 
the  island.  The  city  was  destroyed  by  the  Jews  in  the  reign 
of  Trajan;  but  being  rebuilt,  it  was  afterwards  taken  and 
razed  by  the  Saracens,  in  the  time  of  Herodius.  It  never 
recovered,  and  the  see  of  the  metropolitan  bishop  was  removed 
to  Nicosia.  Out  of  the  ruins  of  Salamis  is  said  to  have  arisen 
Famagusta,  the  chief  place  of  the  island  when  it  was  taken 
from  the  Venetians  by  the  Turks. 

There  was  also  an  island  called  Salamis,  on  the  south  of 
Attica,  in  Greece. 

Salchah,  a  city  of  Bashan.  Deut.  iii.  10. 

Salem,  the  city  of  Melchizedek,  (Gen.  xiv.  18.)  generally 
understood  to  be  Jerusalem. 

Salim,  a  place  in  the  region  of  Samaria,  near  which  John 
baptized.  John  iii.  23. 

Salmoxe,  a  cape  in  the  island  of  Crete,  passed  by  St.  Paul. 
(Acts  xxvii.  7.)  Some  think  a  city  of  this  name  was  also 
situated  there.  The  cape  still  retains  its  ancient  name,  but 
the  city,  if  there  was  one,  is  gone. 

Salt  Sea,  See  Dead  Sea. 

Salt,  vallei/  of:  a  valley  in  the  south  of  Judah,  on  the 
borders  of  Edom,  near  the  Dead  Sea.  This  valley  is  noted 
in  Scripture  for  the  frequent  slaughters  made  there  of  the 
Edomites,  by  the  Israelites.  (2  Sam.  viii.  13.  2  Kings  xiv.  7. 
1  Chron.  xviii.  12.  2  Chron,  xxv.  11.)  In  the  first  of  these 
texts  they  are  said  to  be  Syrians  that  were  smitten,,  but  in 
1-  Chron.  xviii.  12.  they  are  Edomites,  which  is  doubtless  the 
true  reading,  not-  only  oia-account  of  the  situation  of  the  valley 
of- Salt  hear  the  frontier  of  the  Edomiteg,  but  very  distant 
from  the  Syrians,  but  also  because  the  Greek,  Syriac,"and. 
Arabic  interpreters  all  read'  i^do^n,  and  fxot  Aram,  or  Syria... 
The  error  in  the  Hebrew  text  evidently  arose  from  the  simili-. 
tude  of  the  Hebrew  words  lUI^  Edom,  and  0"15^  Aram,  the 
Hebrew  i  D  and  -^  R  being  very  much  alike,  and-easily  mis- 
taken one  for  the  other. 

Samaria,  a  country  of  the  Holy  Land  lying  between  Judea 
on  the  south,  and  Galilee  on  the  north,  and  extending  from 
the  Mediterranean  on  the  west,  to  the  Jordan  on  the  east.  It 
comprised  most  of  the  country  once  belonging  to  the  tribes  of 
Ephraim,  Manasseh,  and  Issachar.  That  Samaria  in  the  New 
Testament  included  the  country  between  Judea  proper,  and 
Galilee,  is  evident  from  John  iv.  3,  4.  This  province  receiv- 
ed its  nam.e  from  the  city  of  Samaria,  formerly  the  capital  of 


262  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  HAD 

the  kings  of  Israel,  built  by  Omri,  and  named  Samaria,  after 
Shemer,  the  person  of  whom  he  bouo-lit  the  hill  on  which  it 
.stood.  (1  Kings  xvi.  24.)  This  city  was  founded  about  A.  M. 
3085.  It  was  built  upon  a  liill  about  eight  miles  north  of 
Shechem,  and,  according  to  Josephus,  was  a  day's  journey 
from  Jerusalem.  Being  tlie  capital  of  the  kings  of  Israel,  it 
was  nmch  ornamented  and  strengthened  by  them. 

Samaria  was  first  besieged  by  Benhadad,  king  of  Syria, 
and  w^as  reduced  to  great  extremity,  but  it  was  then  miracu- 
lously delivered,  according  to  the  prediction  of  the  prophet 
Elisha.  It  was  afterwards  taken  by  Salmaneser,  king  of 
Assyria,  after  a  siege  of  three  years.  This  prince  carried 
away  the  Israelites,  or  the  ten  tribes,  captive,  and  in  their 
stead  sent  a  colony  of  divers  nations  who  patched  up  a  religion 
out  of  the  Jev/ish  and  their  own  heatlienish  rites.  In  the 
time  of  the  Maccabees,  this  city  was  taken  by  one  of  that 
family,  and  laid  in  ruins.  Herod  tlie  Great,  being  pleased 
vvith  Its  situation,  rebuilt  it  in  a  stately  manner,  adorning  it 
with  fine  marble  pillars  and  other  sculpture,  which  are  yet 
found  in  abundance  among  the  rubbish  which  marks  the 
place.  He  also  inclosed  it  with  a  strong  wall,  and  erected  a 
temple.  In  honour  of  Augustus  Cassar,  he  named  it  Sebaste, 
a  Greek  name  answering  to  the  Latin  Aiigiistus.  Herod 
Agrippa  obtained  this  city  of  the  emperor  Caligula ;  and  by 
taking  part  witli  the  Romans  under  Vespasian,  against  the 
Jews,  it  avoided  tiie  calamities  which  fell  upon  the  country 
in  consequence  of  the  war.  But  the  inhabitants,  afterwards 
adopting  other  politics,  were  exterminated  from  the  country 
with  the  Jews,  by  Adrian,  and  the  city  has  since  gone  to 
decay,  having  now  but  a  few  cottages,  and  convents  inhabited 
by  Greek  monks.  Some  travellers  who  have  traced  its  ruins, 
have  conjectured  it  to  have  once  been  larger  than  Jerusalem. 

Samaritans,  a  name  commonly  given  in  Scripture  to  the 
people  sent  by  the  king  of  Assyria  to  inliabit  the  country 
which  was  left  desolate  by  the  removal  of  the  ten  tribes  into 
captivity.  (2  Kings  xvii.  24.)  These  strangers  do  not  seem 
at  first  to  have  had  any  temple,  or  any  fixed  place  or  form  of 
worship  common  to  the  whole ;  but  each  nation  worshipped 
the  deity  they  had  been  accustomed  to  in  their  own  country. 
(2  Kings  xvii.  29,  &c,)  But  they  soon  understood,  from  the 
books  of  Moses  which  they  possessed,  and  from  tiie  example 
of  the  Jews,  their  neighbours,  tiiat  God  was  to  be  worshipped 
only  in  that  place  which  he  had  chosen ;  and  since  the  Jews 


SAM  DICTIONARY  OF   THE  BIBLE.  263 

would  not  allow  them  to  go  to  the  temple  at  Jerusalem,  they 
built  a  temple  of  their  own  upon  Mount  Gerizim,  near  the 
city  of  Shechem,  which  was  then  their  capital.  This  temple 
was  built  by  Sanballat,  the  governor  of  the  Samaritans,  whose 
daughter  liad  married  JManasses,  the  brother  of  Jaddus,  the 
high  priest  of  the  Jews,  and  fearing  that  he  would  put  her 
away,  to  avoid  excommunication  for  having  married  a  strange 
wife,  Sanballat  promised  Manasses  that  if  he  would  retain  her, 
he  would  build  a  temple  answerable  to  that  at  Jerusalem,  and 
would  make  him  the  high  priest  of  it ;  which  Vv^as  accordingly 
done.  This  proved  the  main  occasion  of  the  contention  be- 
tween the  Samaritans  and  Jews,  which  liad  proceeded  so  far, 
that  in  the  time  of  our  Saviour  they  had  no  dealings  with  one 
another.  (John  iv.  9.)  For  though  the  temple  erected  by 
Sanballat  had  long  before  been  destroyed  by  Hyrcanus  the 
Maccabean,  yet  still  there  remained  a  place  of  worship.  (John 
iv.  20.)  This  controversy  respecting  the  right  of  the  two 
tem^ples  as  to  the  place  appointed  by  God  for  sacrifice,  waa 
plainly  determined  by  our  Saviour  against  the  Samaritans.  For 
he  was  passing  from  Galilee  through  Samaria,  and  was  deter- 
mined to  go  to  Jerusalem  to  celebrate  there  the  feast  of  the 
tabernacles ;  for  which  cause  the  Samaritans  refused  to  enter- 
tain him.  Luke  ix.  53. 

The  Samaritans  having  received  the  Pentateuch,  or  the 
five  books  of  Moses,  from  the  priest  that  was  sent  them  by  the 
king  of  Assyria,  (2  Kings  xvii.  27.)  have  preserved  it  to  this 
day  in  the  same  language  and  character  in  which  it  was  then 
written ;  that  is,  in  the  old  Hebrew  or  Phenician  character, 
which  is  now  called  the  Samaritan,  to  distinguisli  it  from  the 
modern  Hebrew,  in  which  the  books  of  the  Jews  are  now 
written.  After  the  captivity,  the  Jews  changed  their  old  char- 
acters, and  used  the  Chaldee,  to  which  they  had  been  accus- 
tomed at  Babylon,  and  which  they  still  continue  to  use.  It  is 
wrong,  says  Calmet,  to  give  this  the  name  of  the  Hebrew 
character,  for  that  can  be  said  properly  only  of  the  Samaritan 
text. 

The  Samaritans  at  present  are  very  few  in  number,  though 
there  are  still  some  residing  at  Shechem,  nov/  called  Naplous. 
They  yet  have  priests,  who  they  say  are  of  tlie  family  of 
Aaron ;  and  they  still  ofier  sacrifices,  and  observe  the  Sabbath 
and  the  law  of  Moses  with  much  strictness.  Some  are  also 
found  at  Gaza,  Damascus,  and  Cairo. 

Samos,  an  island  of  the  Archipelago,  five  miles  from  the 


264  SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY.  SAR 

continent,  and  40  miles  south-east  of  Chios.  It  is  about  80 
miles  in  circumference,  and  is  said  to  be  naturally  produc- 
tive, though  the  agriculture  is  now  much  neglected.  Its 
wine  has  long  been  celebrated  for  its  excellence,  and  the  island 
also  produces  honey  and  wax  of  superior  quality.  The  in- 
habitants are  about  12,000,  chiefly  Greeks;  St.  Paul  visited 
Samos,  on  his  voyage  to  Jerusalem.  Acts  xx.  15. 

Samothracia,  a  small  island  on  the  south-western  coast 
of  Thrace,  at  the  head  of  the  Egean  Sea ;  where  St.  Paul 
landed  as  he  went  from  Troas  to  Macedonia.  (x\cts  xvi.  11.) 
This  island  is  now  called  Samandrachi ;  it  is  about  20  miles 
in  circumference,  and  has  commodious  harbours. 

Sansannah,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  31. 

Saphir,  a  city  (Micah  i.  11.)  thought  by  some  to  be  Sepho- 
ris  in  Galilee;  and  by  others  Shamir,  in  the  tribe  of  Judah, 
which  is  called  Saphir  in  the  Greek  of  Josh.  xv.  48. 

Sardis,  a  city  of  Lydia  in  Asia  Minor,  situated  on  the  banks 
of  the  Pactolus,  and  the  royal  city  of  the  Lydian  kings  until 
Croesus,  the  last  of  them,  was  conquered  by  Cyrus,  the  first 
Persian  emperor.  It  was  taken  from  Xerxes  by  the  Greeks, 
which  so  affected  him  that  he  commanded  one  of  his  attend- 
ants to  say  aloud  every  day,  while  he  was  at  dinner,  "  The 
Grecians  have  taken  Sardis,"  thus  continuing  to  remind  him 
of  it  until  it  should  be  recovered.  It  was  dcstro3''ed  by  an 
earthquake  in  the  reign  of  Tiberius,  who  oidercd  il  to  be  re- 
built ;  and  it  long  remained  to  be  the  m.etropolis  of  the  pro- 
vince of  Lydia.  Strabo  tells  us  it  was  a  great  and  ancient 
city ;  yet  of  later  date  than  the  state  of  the  Trojans.  It  was 
situated  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Tmolus,  which  had  on  its  top  a 
high  tower  of  white  stone,  built  after  the  Persian  manner. 

Out  of  Mount  Tmolus  flowed  the  river  Pactolus,  celebrated 
among  the  ancients  for  the  gold  found  among  its  sands.  This 
gold  was  brought  down  by  the  current,  and  from  it  Croesus 
and  his  ancestors  amassed  their  riches ;  but  now  these  springs 
of  gold  have  failed.  The  rivers  Pactolus  and  Hylas  fall  into 
the  Hermus,  and  empty  themselves  into  the  Phocian  Sea,  now 
called  Fogia,  or  Fochia.  The  prospect  from  the  top  of  Mount 
Tmolus  is  exceedingly  beautiful. 

Sardis,  now  called  Sart,  is  a  poor  village  of  shepherds;  yet 
its  ancient  pillars  and  ruins  still  lift  up  their  heads  as  if  un- 
willing to  lose  the  memory  of  their  ancient  glory.  To  the 
south  of  the  town  are  extensive  ruins,  which  show  what  Sar- 
dis was,  before  earthquakes  produced  its  present  desolation. 


SEL 


DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


265 


Among  these  are  the  ruins  of  a  great  church,  possibly  that 
addressed  in  Rev.  iii.  1,  2,  &c.  the  worshippers  in  which  were 
insincere  and  wicked. 


An  ancient  medal  of  Sardis,  representing  the  head  of  the  goddess 
Proserpine,  who  was  worshipped  in  that  city.  The  reverse  shows  the 
history  of  her  being  carried  off  by  Pluto,  whose  horses  are  urged  for« 
ward  and  directed  by  a  cupid  :  under  their  feet  lies  an  urn  overthrown," 
a  serpent,  the  good  genius,  assisting  in  the  affair.  The  inscription  around 
the  head,  implies  great  dignity  in  this  city :  asias  lydias  ellados  a 
METROPOLIS  sardis.  i.  6.  Sardis,  the  first  metropolis  of  Asia,  Lydia, 
and  Greece.  This  must,  hoAvever,  be  taken  with  some  allowance ;  for 
as  Sardis  was  a  city  of  the  Lesser  Asia,  she  could  not,  properly  speak- 
ing, be  the  metropolis  of  Greece.  The  inscription  on  the  reverse,  epi 
sou  L  ERMOPHiLou  ASiARCH  SARDiANON  B  NEOKORON,  commemorates 
Sulpicius  Hermophilus,  the  Asiarch,  under  whom  Sardis  enjoyed  a 
second  Neocorate,  or  was  a  second  time  conservator  of  the  sacred  im 
plements,  ceremonies,  &c. 

Sarepta,  See  ZarepJiath. 

Sarid,  a  city  of  Zebulon.  Josh.  xix.  10. 

Sea,  the  terms  Great  Sea,  Western  Sea,  Sea  of  the  Philis- 
tines, &c.  in  Scripture,  generally  denote  the  Mediterranean, 
which  lay  west  of  the  land  of  Canaan.  Of  the  other  seas 
mentioned  in  the  sacred  history,  we  have  treated  under  their 
proper  names. 

Seba,  See  Sheba. 

Secacah,  a  city  in  the  south  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  61. 

Seir,  mount ;  See  Part  L  p.  35.  Also  a  mountain  in  the 
border  of  Judah,  near  Kirjath-jearim.  Josh.  xv.  10. 

Seirah,  a  place  probably  near  Bethel.  Judg.  iii.  26. 

Selah,  (2  Kuigs  xiv.  7.)  See  Joktheel. 

Seleucia,  a  city  of  Syria,  westward  from  Antioch,  and  near 
X 


266  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  SHE 

the  mouth  of  the  river  Orontes,  built  by  Seleucus  Nicanor. 
St.  Paul  and  Barnabas  embarked  here,  on  their  voyage  to  Cy- 
prus. (Acts  xiii.  4.)     It  is  also  mentioned  in  1  Mace.  xi.  8. 

Semeciion,  lake ;  See  icaters  of  Meron,  Part  I.  p.  58. 

Sephar,  a  mountain,  (Gen.  x.  80.)  generally  supposed  to  be 
situated  in  Mesopotamia,  though  some  conjecture  it  to  have 
been  in  Arabia. 

Sepharvaim,  a  people  brought  by  the  king  of  Assyria  to  in- 
habit the  country  of  the  Israelites  after  they  had  been  carried 
into  captivity.  (2  Kings  xvii.  24.)  Their  original  dwelling  ia 
supposed  to  have  been  in  the  neighbourhood  of  jMount  Sephar, 
in  Mesopotamia.  The  city  of  Sepharvaim  is  mentioned  in 
Scripture,  (2  Kings  xix.  13.  Isa.  xxxvii.  13.)  and  was  proba- 
bly the  capital  of  these  people. 

Shaalabein,  a  city  of  Dan,  (Josh.  xix.  42.)  elsewhere  call- 
ed Shaalbim,  and  Sbaalim. 

Shaarim,  a  city  of  Simeon,  ( 1  Chron.  iv.  31.)  noticed 
among  the  cities  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  36.)  and  there  called 
Sharaim. 

Shahazimah,  a  city  of  Issachar.  Josh.  xix.  22. 

Shalem,  a  city  of  Shechem,  (Gen.  xxxiii.  18.)  probablv  the 
original  name  of  Sichem  or  Shechem. 

Shalisha,  See  Baal-shalisha. 

Shamir,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  48.)  and  another  in 
Ephraim.  Judges  x.  1. 

Shapher,  mount,  one  of  the  encampments  of  the  Israelites, 
near  Haradah.  Numb,  xxxiii.  23. 

Sharon  :  there  seem  to  be  three  places  or  districts  of  this 
name  mentioned  in  Scripture.  One  in  the  west  of  Ephraim, 
between  Csesarea  and  Joppa ;  another  in  the  east  of  Zebulon, 
between  Mount  Tabor  and  the  sea  of  Tiberias ;  and  another 
in  the  tribe  of  Gad,  east  of  Jordan.  The  name  Sharon  sio^- 
nifies  a  plain,  and  seems  to  have  been  a  place  noted  for  fruit- 
fulness  and  excellent  pastures.  1  Chron.  xxvii.  29.  Isa.  Ixv. 
10.  Song  ii.  1.  Acts  ix.  35. 

Sharuhen,  a  city  of  Simeon.  Josh.  xix.  6. 

Shaven,  a  valley  near  Jerusalem,  called  also  the  hinges 
dale.  (Gen.  xiv.  17.)  Shavch-kiriathaim,  (Gen.  xiv.  5.)  was 
probably  a  valley  near  Kiriathaim  in  tlie  tribe  of  Reuben. 

Sheba,  and  Seba  :  tliere  appear  to  be  four  people  of  this 
name  mentioned  in  Scripture : — 

1.  Seba,  a  son  of  Cusli,  and  grandson  of  Ham.  Gen.  x.  7. 

2.  Sheba,  son  of  Raamah,  and  grandson  of  Cush.  Gen.  x.  7. 


SHE  DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE.  267 

2.  Sheba,  a  son  of  Joktan,  of  the  family  of  Shem.  Gen.  x.  28. 

4.  Sheba,  a  son  of  Jokslian,  who  was  the  son  of  Abraham 
by  Keturah.  Gen.  xxv.  2. 

It  appears  most  probable  that  Seba,  the  son  of  Gush,  settled 
in  Arabia  Felix,  and  was  the  father  of  the  Sabeans,  noted  for 
their  riches  and  spices.  Isa.  Ix.  6.  Jer.  vi.  20. 

Sheba,  the  son  of  Raamah,  is  conjectured  to  have  settled 
in  the  south-east  of  Arabia;  and  of  this  family  may  have  been 
the  merchants  of  Sheba  mentioned  by  Ezekiel. 

Sheba,  the  son  of  Joktan,  has  also  been  placed  in  Arabia  by 
some  writers ;  but  more  probably  dwelt  in  the  north  of  Meso- 
potamia. 

Sheba,  the  son  of  Jokshan,  dw^elt  in  Arabia  Deserta,  and 
was  probably  the  ancestor  of  the  Sabeans  who  took  away  the 
flocks  of  Job. 

All  these  families  in  Arabia  were  confounded  by  the  Greeks 
under  the  general  name  of  Sabeans ;  and  Pliny  says  that  the 
Sabean  nations  spread  themselves  to  botli  seas ;  i.  e.  from  the 
Red  Sea,  or  Gulf  of  iVrabia,  to  the  Gulf  of  Persia. 

It  has  been  contended  by  some  authors,  that  Seba  the  son 
of  Gush  settled  in  Ethiopia,  south  of  Egypt ;  and  that  thence 
came  that  queen  of  Sheba  who  visited  king  Solomon.  (1  Kings 
X.)  This  was  the  opinion  of  Josephus ;  and  Mr.  Bruce  relates 
that  the  Abyssinians  boldly  maintain  that  this  queen  was  of 
their  country,  and  that  their  kings  are  descended  from  Meni- 
lek,  wdio  they  say  was  the  son  of  Solomon  by  the  queen  of 
Sheba.  They  have  a  catalogue  of  the  kings  descended  from 
her,  with  the  order  of  their  succession.  Dr.  Wells,  however, 
agrees  with  the  learned  Bochart,  and  thinks  the  queen  of 
Sheba  was  so  named,  not  from  any  country  in  African  Ethio- 
pia, but  from  the  south  of  Arabia  Felix.  Sheba  was  usually 
called  the  south  country :  and  this  queen  is  said  to  have  come 
from  the  utmost  parts  of  the  earth,  i.  e.  from  the  utmost  parts 
of  Arabia,  southw^ard.  This  part  of  Arabia  also  abounded 
with  gold  and  spices,  which  were  brought  to  Solomon  by  the 
queen :  and  it  is  related  that  women  reigned  over  these  Sa- 
bean nations,  as  well  as  over  the  Ethiopians. 

Shebo,  a  city  of  Simeon.  Josh.  xix.  2. 

Sheban,  a  city  of  Reuben.  Numb,  xxxii.  3. 

Shebae.im,  a  place  near  Ai  and  Bethel.  Josh.  vii.  5. 

Shechem,  or  Sichem.  See  Pari  I.  p.  30. 

Shema,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  26. 

Shemer,  the  name  of  the  hill  upon  which  was  afterwards 
built  the  city  of  Samaria.  1  Kmgs  xvi.  24. 


268  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  SHU 

Shen,  a  place  near  Mizpeh  in  Judah,  (1  Sam.  vii.  12.)  pro- 
bably the  same  called  Seneh,  xiv.  4. 

Shepham,  a  city  of  Syria,  in  the  north-eastern  border  of 
Canaan ;  possibly  the  same  called  afterwards  Apamea. 
•    Sheshach,  a  name  by  which  Jeremiah  is  understood  to 
mean  Babylon.  Jer.  xxv.  26. 

Shibmah,  or  Sibmah,  a  city  of  Reuben,  situated,  according- 
to  Jerom,  near  Heshbon.  Numb,  xxxii.  38.  Josh,  xiii,  19. 

Shicron,  a  city  in  the  border  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  11. 

Shihon,  a  city  of  Issachar.  Josh.  xix.  19. 

Shilhim,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  32. 

Shiloh.  See  Part  I.  p.  61.  This  place  is  frequently  men- 
tioned in  Scripture.  Tlie  name  in  Hebrew  may  signify  dis- 
solving; or  untying  the  shoe,  or  peace,  or  abounding  ;  in  Sy- 
riac,  illusive,  or  deceptive. 

Shimron,  a  city  of  Zebulon.  Josh.  xix.  15. 

Shinar.  See  Fart  I.  p.  13. 

Shittim,  a  place  east  of  Jordan,  in  the  Land  of  Moab, 
v.'here  the  Israelites  were  encamped  for  some  time.  Numb, 
xxv.  1.  Josh.  ii.  1.  Part  I.  p.  50. 

Shocoh,  a  place  near  Azekah.  1  Sam.  xvii.  1. 

Shophan,  a  city  of  Gad,  Numb,  xxxii.  35. 

Shual,  a  district  invaded  by  the  Philistines  in  the  time  of 
Saul;  probably  situated  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim.  (1  Sam.  xiii. 
17.)  The  name  Shual  signifies  a/ox,,  and  the  Land  of  Shual, 
here  mentioned,  may  have  been  so  named  from  abounding 
with  those  animals,  Shual  may  also  mean  a  path,  or  a  fight, 
or  thejist,  and  from  this  latter  meaning  some  have  conjectur- 
ed that  the  story  of  Samson's  catching  three  hundred ybxe*, 
in  order  to  burn  the  standing  corn  of  the  Philistines,  (Judges 
XV.  4.)  would  have  been  better  translated  by  saying  that  he 
took  three  hundred  handfuls  or  sheaves,  (jnanipulus,  Latin, 
from  manits,  the  hand,)  and  turned  them  end  to  end,  and  put  a 
fire-brand  in  the  midst,  between  the  two  ends,  and  cast  them 
into  the  standing  corn  of  the  Philistines.  A  much  more  likely 
way  of  setting  a  field  of  grain  on  fire,  than  to  catch  three 
hundred  foxes,  and  tie  them  two  and  two,  with  fire-brands 
between  their  tails;  particularly  if  tiie  fox  of  Scripture,  as  is 
allowed  by  the  most  learned  commentators,  was  the  animal 
loiown  to  us  by  the  name  of  jackal. 

Shunem,  a  city  of  Issachar,  south  of  j\Iount  Tabor.  (Josb. 
xix.  18.)  At  this  place  dwelt  the  woman  who  so  hospitably 
entertained  the  prophet  Elisha,  and  whose  child  he  restored  to 
life.  2  Kings  iv. 


SID  DICTION.VRY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  269 

Shur,  a  city  of  Arabia  Petrea,  which  is  supposed  to  have 
given  name  to  the  wilderness  of  Shur  in  its  vicinity.  (Gen. 
xvi.  7.  XX.  1.)  Part  I.  p.  44. 

Shushan,  the  capital  of  Susiana  in  Persia,  situated  upon 
llie  river  Ulai.  (Dan.  viii.  2.)  It  was  the  winter  residence  of 
tlie  Persian  kings,  from  the  time  of  Cyrus;  but  m  the  summer 
they  removed  to  Ecbatana,  on  account  of  the  heat.  Tliis  city 
is  also  mentioned  in  the  beginning-  of  the  books  of  Esther  and 
Nehemiah,  and  is  generally  called  the  palace.  It  was  an- 
ciently a  rich  and  splendid  city,  and  when  taken  by  Alexan- 
der, he  found  here  50,000  talents  of  uncoined  gold,  besides 
wedges  of  silver,  and  jewels  of  inestimable  value.  The  old 
city  is  now  a  heap  of  ruins ;  but  there  is  said  to  be  one  near 
it  now  called  Suster,  which  is  a  flourishing  place,  122  miles 
south-west  from  Ispahan. 

SiBMAH,  the  same  as  Shibmah. 

SiBRAiM,  a  place  betjk-een  Damascus  and  Hamath.  Ezek. 
xlvii.  16. 

SicHAR,  and  Sichem,  names  of  Shechem. 

SiDDiM,  vale  of:  See  Part  L  p.  31. 

SiDON,  a  city  of  Asher,  in  the  north-west  of  Canaan,  or 
Phenicia,  on  the  coast  of  the  Mediterranean,  about  25  miles 
north  of  Tyre.  It  was  one  of  the  most  ancient  cities  m  the 
world,  having  been  founded  by  Sidon,  the  son  of  Canaan,  and 
great-grandson  of  Noah.  Having  long  enjoyed  an  extensive 
commerce,  it  became  one  of  the  most  opulent  cities  in  the 
world,  and  in  the  time  of  Joshua,  (xi.  8.)  was  called  "  Sidon 
the  great,"  by  way  of  eminence.  The  Sidonians  were  famous 
for  ship-building,  and  hewing  timber,  (1  Kings  v.  6.)  and  from 
this  place  Solomon  had  his  principal  workmen  to  build  the 
temple.  They  were  also  distinguished  in  other  arts,  and  are 
said  to  have  been  the  first  makers  of  transparent  glass.  Not- 
withstanding the  strength,  riches,  and  prosperity  of  Sidon,  its 
ruin  was  foretold  by  the  prophets  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  and  others. 
This  was  accomplished  in  the  time  of  Ochus,  king  of  Persia ; 
for  the  Sidonians  havmg  rebelled,  he  came  against  them  with 
an  army,  and  the  city  was  betrayed  into  his  hands,  upon 
which  the  inhabitants  in  despair  set  fire  to  their  own  houses, 
and  perished  in  the  flames,  with  their  wives  and  children,  to 
the  number  of  40,000.  In  the  tune  of  the .  crusades,  it  was 
held  by  the  Christians,  but  was  afterwards  taken  from  them 
by  the  Turks. 

Sidon  is  now  a  mean  place,  though  it  yet  has  a  considerable 
X2 


270 


SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 


SID 


trade,  being  the  chief  port  of  Damascus.  It  .is  now  called 
Seyde,  or  Saide,  and  is  45  miles  west  from  Damascus.  There 
are  three  Christian  churches  here. 


No.  1.  An  ancient  medal  of  Sidon,  representing  Astarte  holding  a 
cross,  and  standing  on  a  ship,  having  the  modius,  or  sacred  measure,  on 
her  head.  Inscription,  sidonos  theas,  (he  Sidonian  goddess;  also  some 
Phenician  letters,  which  prove  its  grfeat  antiquity. 

Ko.  2.  The  Sidonian  goddess  seated  on  a  bull,  probably  having  re- 
ference to  the  story  of  Europa :  on  the  reverse  the  temple  of  Venus,  as 
appears  by  the  crescent  surmounting  a  column.  Inscription  Sidonio, 
date  ZKP,  127,  from  the  era  of  the  Selcucidae. 


No.  3.  The  goddess  in  her  car ;  on  her 

head  the  modius,  with  flowers  in  festoons 
hanging  from  it  on  each  side.  The  in- 
scription the  same  as  No.  1.  Date  227 


No.  4. 


No.  5. 


SIN 


DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE. 


271 


No.  4.  Astarte  resting  her  right  hand  on  a  trophy  ;  on  her  left  stands 
Victory  on  a  pillar ;  at  her  feet  is  Silenus,  and  beside  her  a  shell.  This 
shell  is  supposed  to  be  the  purple  murex,  and  to  allude  to  the  Tyrian 
dye,  which  was  said  to  be  extracted  from  it. 

No.  5.  The  goddess  in  her  temple,  holding  the  long  cross  in  her  hand 
Silenus  with  his  wine-bottle  at  her  feet,  a  Victory  on  a  pillar  beside  her 
Before  the  temple  is  an  altar,  and  beside  it  the  shell.  This  figure  is  in 
most  respects  similar  to  No.  4,  and  shows  that  there  was  a  remple  to 
this  goddess  in  Sidon,  and  that  she  was  worshipped  in  that  city. 

SiHON,  kingdom  of:  See  Part  I.  p.  53. 

SiHOR,  or  Shihor,  (Josh.  xiii.  3.  1  Chron.  xiii.  5.)  a  river 
supposed  by  some  to  be  the  Nile ;  but  was  more  probably  a 
river  falling  into  the  Mediterranean  near  the  southern  bound- 
ary of  the  Land  of  Canaan,  on  the  frontier  of  Egypt,  and 
called  in  several  passages  of  Scripture,  the  river  of  Egypt. 
See  Part  I.  p.  32.  Shi/ior-libnath  was  a  river  in  the  tribe  of 
Asher.  Josh.  xix.  26. 

SiLOAM,  a  pool  or  fountain  on  the  south-west  of  Jerusalem, 
(Nehem.  iii.  15.  John  ix.  7.)  probably  the  same  elsewhere 
called  Gihon.  The  tow^er  of  Siloam  (Luke  xiii.  4.)  is  thought 
to  have  stood  near  this  pool,  towards  the  west.  A  church  was 
formerly  built  over  the  fountain,  but  it  has  now  gone  to  ruin. 

Simeon,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  L  p.  64. 

Sin,  a  desert  between  Elim  and  Sinai.  (Exod.  xvi.  1.  Numb, 
xxxiii.  11.)  See  Part  I.  p.  44.  Also  a  city  of  Egypt,  (Ezek. 
xxx.  15.)  afterwards  called  Petusium,  which  see. 

Sinai,  a  mountain  in  Arabia,  between  the  two  gulfs,  at  the 
head  of  the  Red  Sea.  See  Part  I.  p.  45. 


^^^^^, d 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^H 

^^^^^H 

^^^^^^^1 

1^^^^&  ^ -_!- 

^^^^^H^ 

^^^^^pl 

View  of  Mount  Sinai. 


272 


SCRIPTtHE  GEOGRAPHY. 


SIN 


It  seems  probable,  from  Scripture,  that  Sinai  and  Horeb 
were  only  different  heads  or  peaks  of  flie  same  mountain  ;  and 
besides  these  there  is  another,  now  called  the  i\Iount  of  St.  Ca- 
diarine.  The  monastery  of  St.  Catharine  stands  at  the  foot  of 
Mount  Sinai,  and  is  strong-ly  built  of  stone.  On  the  east  side 
js  a  window  by  which  pilg-rims  and  visitors  are  drawn  up  into 
the  monastery  in  a  basket  which  is  let  down  by  a  rope  and 
pulley.  By  tlie  same  means  the  monks  also  let  down  \'tctuals 
and  alms  to  tlie  Arabs,  to  be  better  secured  from  outrage  ;  but 
they  never  suffer  them  to  enter  the  monastery,  the  door  of 
which  is  only  opened  to  admit  their  bishop.  The  Greek 
Christians  have  been  in  possession  of  this  monastery  for  a 
thousand  years ;  it  having  been  given  to  them  by  the  emperor 
Justinian.  From  this  building-  there  were  formerly  steps  up 
the  side  of  the  mountain  to  its  very  top,  the  number  of  which 
was  computed  at  14,000.  At  present  some  of  them  are  bro- 
ken; but  those  which  remain  are  well  made,  and  easy  to 
ascend  and  descend. 

SiNiM,  a  place  mentioned  in  Isaiah  xlix.  12.  supposed  by 
learned  commentators  to  mean  China. 


"'"Hpi 


Idol  Worship  in  China. 


The  Chinese  are  remarkable  for  the  pertinacity  with  which 
they  adhere  to  their  ancient  customs,  and  are  no  doubt 
essentially  the  same  people  whicli  their  ancestors  were  2000 
years  ago.  In  common  with  other  pagans  they  are  gross 
idolaters,  and  have  numerous  temples  dedicated  to  their  still 
more  numerous  deities. 


SMY  DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE.  273 

Among'  the  numerous  promises  in  the  Scriptures,  there  is 
one  which  bears  directly  upon  China,  (Isaiah  xlix.  12.)  "  Be- 
hold, these  shall  come  from  far,  and  lo !  these  from  the  north 
and  west,  and  these  from  the  land  of  the  Sinimy  Great 
philologists  are  agreed  that  Sinim  was  the  name  under  which 
eastern  Asia  was  known  to  the  inhabitants  of  western  Asia. 
The  Arabs,  Syrians,  Malays,  and  Siamese,  to  this  day,  call  it 
Tsin  Chin,  or  Shin  ;  and  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether  the 
Hebrews,  who  knew  the  existence  of  Hindoostan  (Esther  i. 
1.)  under  the  name  of  Hodu,  and  of  Scythia  under  the  name 
of  Magog,  could  be  entirely  ignorant  of  the  largest  and  oldest 
of  empires.     Sinim  is  the  Hebrew  plural  of  Sin. 

SiNiTES,  descendants  of  Canaan.  Gen.  x.  17.  See  Part  I. 
p.  28. 

Sign,  or  Zion,  a  mountain  in  Jerusalem,  called  also  the 
Mount  of  the  Lord,  and  the  holy  mountain. 

SiPHMOTH,  a  place  in  Judah.  1  Sam.  xxx.  28. 

SiRioN,  a  name  given  by  the  Sidonians  to  Mount  Hermon, 
which  the  Amorites  called  Shenir.  Deut.  iii.  9. 

Smyrna,  a  famous  sea-port  town  of  Ionia  in  Asia  Minor, 
built  by  the  iEolians,  and  afterwards  strengthened  by  a  colony 
from  Ephesus.  It  is  said  to  have  received  its  name  from  a 
queen  of  the  Amazons,  called  Smyrna,  who  took  possession  of 
it.  It  was  afterwards  destroyed  by  the  Lydians,  and  remain- 
ed almost  deserted,  for  400  years,  until  Antigonus,  one  of 
Alexander's  generals,  and  after  him  Lysimachus,  restored  it 
to  its  ancient  splendour.  About  180  years  after  Christ,  it 
was  nearly  ruined  by  an  earthquake,  but  was  repaired  by 
Marcus  Aurelius.  Having  again  fallen  into  decay,  about 
A.  D.  1675,  it  was  restored  by  the  Turks,  who  erected  many 
stately  buildings,  chiefly  from  the  ruins  of  the  ancient  city. 
Over  the  gate  of  a  castle  on  the  hill,  the  Roman  eagle  con? 
tinues  still  engraved,  and  not  far  distant  is  the  tomb  of  Poly- 
carp,  an  early  Christian  martyr,  who  suffered  death  here,  and 
who  is  supposed  to  be  the  angel,  or  pastor  of  the  church  in 
Smyrna,  addressed  in  Rev.  ii.  8. 

S'myrna  is  at  present  a  considerable  city,  and  noted  for  its 
extensive  commerce.  Its  port  is  one  of  the  finest  of  the  Le- 
vant, and  is  frequented  by  ships  from  nearly  all  parts  of  the 
world.  It  is  visited  by  caravans  from  Persia,  and  by  mer- 
chants from  many  eastern  countries,  who  bring  here  their 
merchandise  for  traffic.  A  great  number  of  Christians  of  all 
nations,  sects,  and  languages  reside  here  in  security,  and  have 
several  churches. 


1 


274 


SCRIPTURE    GEOGRAPHY. 


sue 


A  medal  of  Smj^rna,  reprcsenling  Ceres,  the  goddess  of  plent\%  with 
the  inscription,  smyrnaion  proton  asias,  Smi/rtia,  Ihe  frst  rf  Asia; 
i.  e.  tlie  first  of  the  ciiies  in  proconsular  Asia.  The  reverse  represents 
Jupiter  sitting,  and  holding  in  his  hand  Victory.  The  inscription  com 
memorates  "  Philotas,  son  of  Hippicus." 

SocoH,  or  Shocoh,  the  name  of  two  towns  in  Judah.  Josh. 
XV.  35.  48.  1  Sam.  xvii.  1.  1  Kings  iv.  10.  1  Chron.  iv.  18. 
2  Chron.  xi.  7. 

SoDOM,  one  of  the  five  cities  of  the  plain,  or  vale  of  Siddim, 
which  were  destroyed  for  their  wickedness  by  fire  from  hea- 
ven, ,  It  seems  to  have  been  the  m.ost  considerable  of  those 
cities,  and  probably  stood  near  the  present  southern  extremity 
of  the  Dead  Sea.     See  Dead  Sea. 

SoREK,  a  brook  or  valley  in  the  tribe  of  Dan,  near  Eshtad 
Judges  xvi.  4. 

Spain.  It  is  asserted  by  ancient  writers  that  St.  Paul 
preached  the  gospel  in  Spain ;  and  he  tells  us  himself,  (Rom. 
XV.  24.  28.)  that  he  had  resolved  on  going-  thither.  Theo- 
doret,  and  otliers,  tell  us  that  he  preached,  not  only  in  Spain, 
but  in  other  nations,  and  brought  the  gospel  into  the  isles  of 
the  sea,  by  which  he  probably  means  Britain.  The  gospel 
was  certainly  planted  in  Spain  at  a  very  early  period,  and 
many  ancient  Spanish  writers  affirm  that  the  apostle  James, 
the  son  of  Zebedee  and  the  brother  of  John,  was  the  principal 
missionary  of  the  Spaniards.  Many  Latin  and  Greek  writers 
certify  that  Paul  executed  his  design,  and  visited  Spain  after 
recovering  his  liberty  at  Rome. 

SuccoYii,  a  place  east  of  Jordan,  near  the  brook  Jabbok, 
where  Jacob  dwelt  some  time,  (Gen.  xxxiii.  17.)  and  where 
aflerwards  was  a  city  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Gad.  (Josh, 
xiii.  27.  Judges  viii.  5.  1  Kings  vii.  46.)  Also  a  station  of  the 
Israelites  when  preparing  to  leave  Egypt,    See  Part  I.  p.  43. 


SYR  DICTIONARY   OF  THE  BIBLE.  275 

SuKKiM,  a  people  probably  inhabiting  the  parts  of  Africa 
adjoining  Egypt  on  the  south.  2  Chron.  xii.  3. 

Sychar,  (John  iv.  5.)  the  same  as  Shechem. 

Syene,  a  city  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Egypt;  (Ezek. 
xxix.  10.)  where  it  is  placed  in  opposition  to  Cush,  or  Arabian 
Ethiopia,  to  signify  the  whole  extent  of  Egypt  from  south  to 
north. 

Syracuse,  a  famous  city  of  Sicily,  situated  on  the  east,  side 
of  the  island,  founded  by  a  Corinthian  colony  about  732  B.  C. 
It  was  afterwards  under  various  governments,  but  became 
very  powerful ;  and  in  the  time  of  Dionysius,  king  of  Syracuse, 
commonly  called  the  tyrant,  an  army  of  100,000  foot,  10,000 
horse,  and  400  ships  were  kept  in  constant  pay.  It  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Romans,  under  JMarcellus,  after  a  siege  of 
three  years,  B.  C.  212.  This  opulent  city  had  two  capacious 
harbours,  and  was  well  built,  with  stately  and  magnificent 
houses.  Strabo  says  it  v.'-as  22  miles  in  circumference  ;  and 
.  Livy  and  Plutarch  acquamt  us  that  the  spoil  of  it,  when  taken 
by  ^larcellus,  was  almost  equal  to  that  of  Carthage.  Here 
Archimedes,  the  celebrated  mathematician,  was  killed  by  a 
common  soldier,  while  he  w^as  intent  upon  his  studies;  by 
which  Marcellus  was  mAich  grieved.  After  this,  Syracuse  in 
some  measure  recovered  its  former  prosperity;  but  was  at 
length  taken  by  the  Saracens,  A.  D.  884,  and  razed  to  the 
ground.  Some  ruins  of  the  ancient  city  yet  remain ;  near 
which  stands  tlie  modern  town,  a  place  of  little  consequence. 

St.  Paul,  in  his  voyage  to  Rome,  landed  at  Syracuse,  and 
remained  there  three  days.  Acts  xxviii.  12. 

Syria,  a  country  called  in  the  early  Scripture  writings 
Aram,  from  Aram,  the  son  of  Shem,  by  wdiose  descendants  it 
was  peopled.  The  name  Syria  is  often  applied  in  a  vague 
and  indeterminate  sense,  and  it  is  well  to  state  to  what  differ- 
ent countries  it  has  been  applied. 

Syria,  in  its  largest  sense,  includes  all  the  country  lying 
from  Mount  Taurus  on  the  north,  to  the  boundaries  of  Egypt 
and  Arabia  on  the  south ;  having  the  Mediterranean  on  the 
west,  and  the  Euphrates,  east.  In  some  of  the  older  authors, 
indeed,  it  seems  to  have  also  included  Mesopotamia,  called 
Aram  naharaim,  or  Syria  of  the  rivers.  Hosea  xii.  12. 

Syria,  thus  taken  in  its  largest  extent,  may  be  considered 
as  divided  into  tliree  parts :  1.  Upper  Syria,  or  Syria  proper, 
the  original  country  of  Aram,  lying  north  of  Arabia,  and  ex- 
tendmg  from  the  Euphrates  on  the  east,  to  Phenicia,  west. 


276  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  TAB 

This  was  the  original  Syria,  so  called  before  it  was  conquered 
and  annexed  to  Assyria.  2.  Coelo-Syria,  or  Syria  in  the  vale, 
a  name  generally  applied  to  the  country  lying  between  the 
mountainous  ridges  of  Libanus  and  Anti-Libanus ;  though 
sometimes  extended  to  the  region  about  Damascus.  3.  Syria 
Palestina,  including  the  Holy  Land,  and  the  country  on  tha 
north-west  of  it,  called  by  the  Greeks  Phenicia. 

The  term  Syria  in  the  New  Testament  is  used  in  a  more 
restricted  sense,  distinct  from  the  Holy  Land  and  from  Phe- 
nicia, merely  including  the  country  lying  north-east  from  the 
land  of  Canaan,  having  the  Mediterranean  and  Phenicia  on 
the  west,  and  the  Euphrates,  east.  In  the  early  ages,  Syria 
was  divided  into  a  number  of  small  kingdoms,  such  as  Syria 
Zobah,  Syria  of  Damascus,  Syria  of  Maacah,  Syria  of  Rehob, 
&c.  which  were  almost  constantly  at  war  with  the  Israelites. 
This  country,  in  general,  first  became  subject  to  Assyria,  then 
to  Babylon,  next  to  Persia,  and  next  to  Alexander  the  Great 
After  his  death,  it  was  the  seat  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Seleu- 
cidse,  which,  in  its  turn,  fell  before  the  power  of  the  Romans. 
It  was  next  under  the  dominion  of  the  Saracens,  to  whom  suc- 
ceeded the  Turks,  under  whose  government  it  exists  at  pre- 
sent. The  ancient  language  of  this  country  nearly  resembled 
the  Hebrew  and  Arabic,  but  still  nearer  the  Chaldee  ;  at  pre- 
sent, however,  the  Arabic  is  the  general  language  of  the 
country. 

Syro-phemcia  :  this  is  Phenicia,  properly  so  called,  of 
which  Sidon  was  the  capital ;  but  having  by  conquest  been 
united  with  the  Greek  kingdom  of  Syria,  it  was  called  Syro- 
Phenicia.  So  we  find  a  woman  called  by  St.  Mark,  a  Syro- 
phenician,  (vii.  26.)  because  she  was  of  this  country,  which 
was  then  considered  as  part  of  Syria.  St.  Matthew  (xv.  22.) 
calls  her  a  woman  of  Canaan,  which  she  also  was,  as  this 
country  was  peopled  by  the  Canaanites,  Sidon  being  the  eld- 
est son  of  Canaan.     Gen.  x.  15. 


T. 

Taanacii,  a  city  of  Manasseh,  in  Issachar,  near  Megiddo. 
Josh.  xvii.  11. 

Taanath-shiloh,  a  place  in  the  southern  border  of  Ephraim. 
Josh.  xvi.  6. 

Tabbath,  a  place  near  Abel-meholah.  Judg.  vii.  22. 

Taberah,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  wilder- 
ness ;  north  of  Mount  Sinai.     Numb.  xi.  3. 


TAH  dictionary  of  the  bible.  277 

Tabor,  a  noted  mountain  in  the  tribe  of  Zebulon.  It  stands 
separate  fi"om  all  others,  tliough  there  are  some  near  it  on  the 
north,  but  these  are  much  smaller.  Its  shape  is  almost  coni- 
cal ;  and  its  height  about  3000  feet.  On  the  summit  were 
anciently  a  castle  and  other  fortifications,  v;hich  were  very 
strong,  and  the  scene  of  many  sang-uinary  contests  between 
the  Crusaders  and  the  Saracens.  The  ruins  of  these  yet  re- 
main, and  present  stones  of  a  monstrous  size,  which  must  have 
been  carried  up  the  mountain  by  some  art  now  unknown.  It 
is  believed  that  on  this  mountain  our  Saviour  was  transfigured, 
in  the  presence  of  Peter,  James,  and  John,  (Matt,  xvii,  1. 
Luke  ix.  28.)  and  there  yet  remairi  three  contiguous  grottoes, 
made  to  represent  the  three  tabernacles  which  St.  Peter  pro- 
posed to  erect,  in  the  astonishment  that  possessed  him  at  the 
glory  of  the  transfiguration. 


Travellers  represent  the  prospect  from  the  summit  of  Mount 
Tabor  as  singularly  beautiful. 

Tadmor,  a  city  built  by  Solomon  in  the  desert  of  Syria.    1 
Kings  ix.  18.  See  Palmyra. 

Tarpanhes,  Tahapanes,  or  Taphnes,  a  city  of  Egypt,  men 
tioned  frequently  by  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  (ii.  16.  xliii.  7, 
&c.)  also  by  Ezekiel,  (xxx.  18.)  written  Hanes  ui  Isaiah, 
(xxx.  4.)  It  is  thought  to  be  the  city  called  afterwards 
Daphnaj  Pelusias,  and  situated  not  far  from  Pelusium. 
Y 


27B  SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY.  TAR 

Tahath,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  desert, 
near  Makheloth.  Numb,  xxxiii.  26. 

Tahtim-hodshi,  a  tract  in  Manasseh,  lying-  about  lake  Se- 
mechon,  oust  of  it,  and  near  the  head  of  the  Jordan.  2  Sam. 
xxiv.  6. 

Tamar,  a  city  supposed  to  be  situated  near  the  southern 
shore  of  the  Dead  Sea.  Ezek.  xlvii.  19. 

Tanach,  the  same  as  Taanach. 

Tappuaii,  a  city  on  the  frontier  of  Manasseh,  but  belonging 
to  Ephraim,  (Josh.  xvii.  8.)  probably  the  same  elsewhere  call- 
ed En-tappuah.  Another  town  of  this  name  belonged  to  the 
tribe  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  34. 

Tar  AH,  an  encampment  of  the  Israelites  in  the  desert,  near 
Tahath.  Numb,  xxxiii.  27. 

Taralah,  a  city  of  Benjamin.  Josh,  xviii.  27. 

Tarshish,  the  original  country  of  this  name,  or  the  settle- 
ment of  Tarshish  the  son  of  Javan,  was  probably  in  Cilicia, 
in  Asia  IMinor,  in  the  region  where  afterwards  w^as  built  the 
city  of  Tarsus.  (See  Part  I.  p.  19.)  That  this  country  was 
called  Tarshish,  we  have  the  testimony  of  Josephus  and  many 
other  ancient  writers  of  good  authority.  The  people,  being- 
an  enterprising  and  commercial  nation, "establislied  colonies  in 
different  countries,  and  these  colonies  being  also  called  Tar- 
shish, after  the  name  of  the  parent  state,  it  has  become  diffi- 
cult to  ascertain  the  situation  of  the  dillerent  places  mention- 
ed in  Scripture  under  this  name. 

Tarshish  was  a  sea-port,  from  which  the  best  specimens  of 
ship-building  were  produced,  so  that  ships  built  after  the  same 
manner  w-ere  called  ships  of  Tarshish,  though  not  actually 
built  there.  (Isa.  ii.  16.  xxiii.  1.  Psalm  xlviii,  7.)  Silver  was 
the  produce  of  Tarshish,  (Jer.  x.  9.  Ezek.  xxvii.  12.)  and  it 
also  appears  from  Ezekiel  that  iron,  lead,  and  tin  were  brought 
from  that  place.  It  was  also  distant,  and  westward,  since 
Jonah  intended  to  flee  thither.  But  neither  silver  nor  tin 
were  supplied  by  Tarsus  in  Cilicia;  and  what  is  said  of  the 
fleets  of  Solomon  and  Jehosliaphat,  (1  Kings  xxii.  49.  2  Chron. 
ix.  21.  XX.  36.)  excludes  this  from  being  the  Tarshish  of  these 
places;  for  they  would  not  be  likely  to  build  vessels  on  the 
Red  Sea  to  navigate  to  Cilicia;  neither  would  Jonah  quit 
Joppa  for  Tarsus,  with  the  intention  of  avoiding  the  road  to 
Nineveh.  The  Tarshish  to  which  Jonah  tliought  to  flee,  was 
probably  Tartessus  in  Spain,  anciently  called  Tarshish,  and 
settled  by  a  colony  from  the  parent  state  in  Cilicia.  The  ships 


TEK 


DICTIONARY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


279 


of  Solomon  and  Jchoshaphat  were  probably  called  "  ships  of 
Tarshisli,"  from  their  being  built  in  the  same  manner  as  those 
of  Tarsliish ;  but  the  Tarshish  lo  wliich  they  sailed  is  unknown. 
Tarsus,  the  capital  of  Cilicia,  and  the  native  city  of  St. 
Paul.  (Acts  ix.  11.  xxi.  39.)  This  city  was  situated  on  the 
river  Cydnus,  and  was  probably  very  ancient.  It  was  suc- 
cessively possessed  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  and  was  cele- 
brated for  the  cultivation  of  learning-.  In  the  schools  of  this 
city,  St.  Paul  was  early  imbued  with  a  knowledge  of  history 
and  the  liberal  sciences.  Tarsus  still  survives,  under  the  name 
of  Tarsous,  but  it  is  mostly  a  heap  of  ruins.    . 


No.  1.  A  medal  of  Tarsus,  showing  that  Minerva,  as  the  goddess  of 
arts  and  sciences,  was  revered  in  this  city.  On  the  medal  she  holds  a 
Victory  offering  a  garland,  turning  from  thegoddess.  Inscription,  Tar- 
sus the  metropolis  ;  the  letters  added  are  obscure  in  their  import. 

No.  2.  This  medal  contains  two  circles  of  heads,  each  having  seven, 
male  and  female;  the  heads  of  the  inner  circle  are  divided  by  spokes 
like  those  of  a  wheel.  The  upper  head  of  the  outer  circle,  wliich  is 
crowned  with  laurel,  has  on  each  side  of  it  a  Victory  offering  a  crown, 
with  a  palm  branch  in  the  other  hand.  The  import  of  all  this  is  ob- 
scure. Inscription  the  same  as  on  the  former,  tarsou  metropoleos, 
with  the  same  added  letters,  A.  M.  K.  G.  B.  which  possibly  mean  Au 
tocrator  Marcus  Ccusar ;  the  second  year. 

Taverns,  three,  a  place  about  30  miles  from  Rome,  where 
St.  Paul  was  met  hy  some  Christians  on  his  way  thither.  Acts 
xxviii.  15. 

Tekoa,  a  city  of  Judah,  nine  miles  south-east  from  Bethle- 
hem. (2  Chron.  xi.  6.  xx.  20.)  The  prophet  Amos  was  a 
native  of  this  place,  Amos  i.  1. 


280  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  THY 

Tel-abib,  a  place  in  Chalclea,  to  which  some  of  the  captive 
Israelites  were  carried.  Ezek.  iii.  15. 

Telem,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josh.  xv.  24.)  probably  the  same 
called  Telaim,  in  1  Sam.  xv.  4. 

Tel-harsa,  and  Tdmdah,  places  in  Babylonia,  situation 
unknown.  Ezra  ii.  59.  Nehera.  vii.  61. 

Teman,  a  region  in  Arabia.  Jer.  xlix.  7.  Ezck  xxv. 

Thebez,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  not  far  from  She- 
chem.  Judges  ix.  50.  2  Sam.  xi.  21. 

Thelassar,  or  Telassar,  a  place  of  which  tl  e  exact  situa- 
tion is  not  known,  but  it  seems  to  have  been  i/i  Assyria  or 
Armenia.  (2  Kings  xix.  12.  Isaiah  xxxvii.  12.)  k  is  thought 
to  be  the  same  as  Ellasar.  Gen.  xiv.  1.  9. 

Thessalonica,  now  called  Salonichi,  an  ancirnt  city  of 
Macedonia,  situated  at  the  head  of  the  Thermaicu;^  Sinus,  or 
Gulf  of  Salonichi.  It  was  once  a  powerful  city ;  but  passing 
successively  under  the  dominion  of  the  Greeks,  Ronic'ns,  Sa- 
racens, Venetians,  and  Turks,  it  gradually  declined.  Though 
now  in  a  state  of  decay,  it  still  exJiibits  some  remains  of  its 
ancient  greatness ;  and,  having  a  noble  harbour,  is  yet  a  place 
of  considerable  trade.  In  the  times  of  tlie  apostles,  there  seem 
to  have  been  a  number  of  Jews  here,  wdio  had  a  synagogue,  in 
which  Paul  preached,  and  converted  some  ;  but  a  tumult  being 
raised  against  him,  he  was  sent  away  from  the  cit}^  Acts  xvii. 
1,  2,  &c. 

This  place  will  long  be  memorable  on  account  of  two  epis- 
tles written  by  St.  Paul  to  the  Tliessalonians. 

Thisbe,  the  native  place  of  Tobit,  (i.  2.)  It  was  in  the  tribe 
of  Naphtali,  and  probably  near  the  city  called  ICjedesh  in  the 
Old  Testament. 

Thyatira,  a  city  in  the  north  of  Lydia,  in  Asia  Minor,  on 
the  small  river  Lye  us,  not  far  from  its  source.  Pliny  says  its 
ancient  name  was  Pelopia,  and  according  to  Strabo,  it  was 
founded  by  a  colony  of  Macedonians.  Thyatira  has  suffered 
the  same  revolutions  and  changes  of  rulers  as  tlie  other  cities 
in  this  country,  and,  like  most  of  them,  now  lies  in  ruins.  It 
is  called  at  present  by  the  Turks  Ak-hisar,  or  the  white  castle, 
from  some  cliils  of  white  marble  in  its  vicinity.  Among  its 
ruins  are  found  inscriptions,  commemorating  '-the  most  potent 
and  great  city  of  the  Thyatircaus."  The  church  of  Tliyatira 
was  one  of  tlie  seven  addressed  in  tbe  Revelations,  (ii,  18.) 
This  place  is  26  miles  north  from  Sardis. 


TIM 


DICTIONARY   OF   THE   BIBLE. 


281 


Apollo  represented 
m  his  car,  as  the  god 
of  day;  his  head  sur- 
rounded by  rays:  the 
chariot  in  -which  he 
rides  has  somewhat 
the  appearance  of  a 
rainbow.  It  is  drawn 
by  three  lions;  and 
under  each  of  the  ex- 
terior lions  is  a  bull's 
head.  This  alliance 
of  the  solar  hght,  the 
lions  and  the  bull,  is 
another  evidence  of 
the  progress  of  idola- 
try from  the  east ;  the 
lions  being,  as  Dr. 
Wells  thinks  the  em- 
blem of  Mount  Cau- 
casus, and  the  bull  of  INIount  Taurus;  the  subject  of  the  medal  being 
the  representation  of  the  solar  light  rising  behind  these  mountains. 

Tiberias,  a  city  on  the  western  shore  of  the  sea  of  Galilee, 
near  its  southern  extremity ;  built  by  Herod  the  tetrarch  of 
Galilee,  and  named  by  him  in  honour  of  Tiberius  Csesar.  The 
great  privileges  granted  by  Herod  to  the  inhabitants  of  this 
place,  made  it  quickly  become  one  of  the  principal  cities  of 
these  parts.  In  the  time  of  the  Jewish  wars,  Josephus  took 
possession  of  this  city,  and  defended  it  bravely  for  some  time ; 
but  being  taken  by  Vespasian,  its  walls  were  partly  beaten 
down,  and  the  city  othervv^ise  greatly  demolished.  In  the  days 
of  its  prosperity,  it  had  thirteen  synagogues  and  an  academy ; 
and  here  was  held  the  last  session  of  the  Jewish  Sanhedrim. 
Here  also  the  Talmud,  or  body  of  the  Jewish  civil  and  canon 
law,  was  collected. 

From  this  city,  the  Sea  of  Galilee  is  frequently  called  in 
the  New  Testament  the  Sea  of  Tiberias. 

TiBHATH,  a  city  of  Syria,  taken  and  plundered  by  David, 
(1  Chron.  xviii.  8.)  probably  the  same  called  Betah.  2  Sam. 
viii.  8. 

TiMNAH,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  10. 

TiMNATH,  a  city  of  Dan,  in  the  country  of  the  Philistines. 
Josh.  xix.  43.  Judges  xiv.  1. 

TiMNATH-sERAH,  a  city  in  ;Mount  Ephraim  given  to  Joshua, 
(Josh.  xix.  50.)  ealled  also  Tunnath-heres,  (Judges  ii.  9.) 
whence  Mount  Heres.  Judges  i.  35. 
Y2 


>    ."'^ 


282 


SCRIPTURE  GEOGRAPHY. 


TRA 


TiPHSAH,  a  city  on  the  Eup!irates,  which  was  the  frontier 
of  Solomon's  extensive  empire,  (1  Kings  iv.  24.)  and  probably 
the  same  afterwards  called  by  the  Greeks  Thapsacus.  There 
was  also  a  city  of  this  name  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  six 
miles  from  Samaria.  2  Kings  xv.  16. 

TiRZAH,  a  city  of  Ephraim.   See  Part  I.  p.  61. 

ToB,  a  country  in  Syria,  north-east  of  the  Land  of  Canaan^ 
to  which  Jephthah  retired,  (Judg-.  xi.  3.  5.)  and  probably  the 
same  called  Ish-tob,  in  2  Sam.  x.  6.  8.  It  is  called  Tobie,  (1 
Mace.  V.  13.)  and  is  probably  the  country  of  the  Tubieni,  men- 
tioned in  2  Mace.  xii.  17. 

A  medal  of  Tob,  or  Tabe,  on 
which  the  inscription  demos  ta- 
EE.\o.\,  the  people  of  Tahe,  seems 
to  infer  the  existence  of  a  demo 
(^ralic  government.  This  was  not 
customary  in  Syria,  though  there 
is  an  instance  oi"  it  in  Gaza,  of 
which  there  is  a  medal  inscribed 
DEMOS  GAZAio.v.  Aovv  We  Icarn 
that  in  Tob  "  there  were  gathered  vain  men  to  Jephthah,  and  went  out 
with  him,"  probably  on  militarv  expeditions,  he  benig  their  chief:  and 
with  this  agrees  the  request  ot""  the  elders  of  Gilead,  that  he  would  be 
their  captain.  Ish-loh  signifies  Tob  of  the  chief,  or  leader,  and  seem3 
to  corroborate  the  democracy  implied  by  the  inscription  on  our  medal 
Whether  t'.iis  democratic  Ibrm  originated  with  Jephthah  cannot  be  de- 
termined ;  but  that  it  lasted  after  his  time  appears  at  least  probable,  and 
our  medal  proves  t!iat  something  like  it  was  extant  in  the  time  of  Ha- 
drian, to  whose  reign  this  medal  is  referred. 

TocHEN,  a  city  of  Simeon.  1  Chron.  iv.  32. 

ToGARMAH,  a  son  of  Gomer.  See  Part  I.  p.  17. 

ToLAD,  a  city  of  Simeon,  (1  Chron.  iv.  29.)  written  El-tolad. 
Josh.  XV.  30.  xix.  4. 

TopiiEL,  a  place  in  the  wilderness,  near  the  Red  Sea. 
Deut.  i.  1. 

TopiiET,  the  name  of  a  place  in  the  valley  of  Hinnom,  near 
Jerusalem,  rendered  abominable  by  idolatry.  2  Kings  xxiii. 
10.  Jer.  vii.  31. 

TRAcnoMTis,  a  mountainous  region  lying  on  the  north-east 
of  Canaan,  between  Iturea  and  the  country  of  Damascus, 
having  Bashan  or  Batanea  on  the  west,  and  Arabia  Dcserta 
east;  and  extending  from  Iturea  to  the  country  of  Damascus. 
It  seems  to  have  been  nearly  the  same  as  the  country  of  Ar- 
gob,  (Deut.  iii.  13.)  or  the  region  about  Mount  Gilead,  which, 
from  its  craggy  mountains,  was  called  by  the  Greeks  Tra- 


TYR  DICTIONARY  OF   THE    BIBLE.  283 

rkonitis,  i.  e.  the  rough  or  mountainous  country.  This  region, 
together  with  Iturea,  in  the  time  of  our  Saviour,  formed  one 
tetrarchy.  (Luke  iii.  1.)  In  order  to  understand  the  mean- 
mg  of  the  words  tetrarch  and  tetrarchy,  it  is  necessary  to 
observe,  that  on  the  death  of  Herod  the  Great,  his  dominions 
were  divided  into  four  parts,  which  were  thence  called 
tetrarchies,  from  the  Greek  tetra,  four,  and  arche,  a  govern- 
ment. Of  these,  the  tetrarchy  of  Galilee  belonged  to  Herod 
Antipas,  that  of  Iturea  and  Trachonitis  to  his  brother  Philip, 
that  of  Abilene  to  Lysanias,  and  the  fourth,  consisting  of 
Judea,  Samaria,  and  Idumea,  to  Archelaus,  the  eldest  son  of 
Herod  the  Great,  who  for  some  time  enjoyed  the  title  of  king, 
but  being  afterwards  displaced,  his  kingdom  was  made  a 
province  of  the  Roman  empire,  and  was  governed  by  Pontius 
Pilate  at  the  time  of  our  Saviour's  crucifixion. 

Tripolis,  a  city  of  Phenicia,  on  the  Mediterranean,  north 
of  Sidon,  and  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  Holy  Land.  The 
name  denotes  three  cities,  and  it  is  said  to  be  so  called  because 
built  by  the  joint  expense  of  the  three  cities,  Tyre,  Sidon,  and 
xA.radus.  It  seems  to  have  been  of  no  great  note  in  early 
times,  and  is  mentioned  in  2  Mace.  xiv.  1.  as  the  place  where 
Demetrius  landed  with  his  forces.  In  the  primitive  days  of 
the  church,  it  was  made  an  Episcopal  see  by  the  archbishop 
of  Tyre,  and  had  become  a  place  of  some  account  in  the  time 
of  the  crusades,  being  taken  by  the  Christians,  and  made  the 
capital  of  Phenicia  under  their  government.  It  yet  remains 
to  be  one  of  the  principal  towns  along  this  coast,  being  tolera- 
bly fortified,  and  the  houses  neatly  built  with  stone.  It  has 
some  trade,  and  a  French  and  Italian  vice-consul  generally 
reside  here. 

Troas,  a  small  country  in  Asia  Llinor,  lying  west  of  Mysia, 
on  the  sea-coast.  It  took  this  name  from  its  principal  city, 
Troas,  built,  as  it  is  said,  about  four  miles  from  the  site  of 
ancient  Troy,  by  Lysiraachus,  a  general  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  who  peopled  it  from  the  neighbouring  cities,  and  call- 
ed it  Alexandria,  or  Troas  Alexandri,  in  honour  of  Alexander, 
who  began  the  work,  but  did  not  live  to  complete  it.  In 
after  times  it  was  called  simply  Troas,  which  name,  in  the 
sacred  writers,  denotes  the  country  as  well  as  the  city,  but 
chiefly  the  latter. 

St.  Paul  repeatedly  preached  in  Troas,  and  here  he  left  his 
cloak,  his  books,  and'^his  parchments.  (2  Tim.  iv.  13.)  Here 
also  he  had  a  vision,  in  which  the  form  of  a  man  appeared  to 


284  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHT.  TYR 

him,  and  invited  him  to  pass  over  into  Macedonia  to  promote 
vhe  work  of  God  there.  (Acts  xvi.  9.)  In  this  vicinity  are  yet 
seen  fallen  walls  and  other  ruins,  supposed  to  be  the  remains 
of  ancient  Troy,  so  famed  by  the  poets  for  its  ten  years'  siege 
by  the  Greeks ;  and  also  a  number  of  conical  mounds  or  tu- 
muli, some  of  them  a  hundred  feet  in  diameter  at  the  base, 
supposed  to  be  the  tombs  of  Hector,  Achilles,  Patroclus,  Ajax, 
and  other  heroes,  slain  in  the  Trojan  war.  The  rivers  !Sca- 
mander  and  Simois  yet  meander  through  the  plahi  of  Troy 
and  near  their  confluence  was  the  site  of  the  ancient  Ilium. 
The  Scamander  has  now  but  little  water,  and  part  of  its  an- 
cient channel  is  overgrown  with  grass. 

Trogyllium,  a  promontory  of  Mycale,  near  Samos,  at 
which  was  a  town  where  St.  Paul  tarried  one  day.  Acta 
XX.  15. 

Tyre,  a  celebrated  city  of  Phenicia,  in  the  north-w^est  of 
Canaan,  belonging  to  the  tribe  of  Asher,  (Josh.  xix.  29.)  and 
situated  on  the  coast,  about  20  miles  south  of  Sidon.  It  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  originally  built  by  a  colony  of  Sidonians, 
whence  it  is  called  by  Isaiah  (xxiii.  12.)  the  daughter  of  Si- 
don ;  and  stood  at  first  on  a  high  hill,  on  tlic  continent,  where 
its  ruins  still  remain,  under  the  name  of  Paloe-tyrus,  or  Old 
Tyre.  In  process  of  time  the  city  was  removed  to  an  adja- 
cent rocky  island,  very  near  the  main  land,  and  became  a 
place  of  very  great  trade  and  wealth,  for  some  time  excelling 
Sidon  itself.  Hence  Isaiah  says  of  Tyre,  that  her  merchants 
were  princes,  and  her  traffickers  were  the  honourable  of  the 
earth.  It  was  particularly  famous  for  dying  purple,  said  to 
have  been  first  discovered  by  a  mere  accident,  a  dog's  lips  hav- 
ing been  coloured  purple  by  eating  of  a  certain  sliell-fish. 
Tyre  was  taken  and  destroyed  by  Nebuchadnezzar ;  but  hav- 
ing recovered  from  this,  it  flourished  for  a  considerable  time, 
until  it  was  again  demolished  by  Alexander  the  Great,  who 
had  joined  it  to  the  main  land  by  a  mole  or  bank  of  earth,  and 
took  it,  after  a  siege  of  seven  months,  B.  C.  332.  Again 
recovering  both  its  beauty  and  riches,  this  city  became  a  con- 
federate of  the  Romans,  and  for  its  fidelity  was  invested  with 
the  privileges  of  a  Roman  city.  Under  tiie  dominion  of  the 
Christians  it  was  the  metropolitan  see  for  the  province  of 
Phenicia ;  but  in  A.  D.  030,  it  was  subjected  by  the  Saracens, 
and  having  remained  under  tlieir  dominion  418  years,  it  was 
taken  bv  the  Crusaders  in  1124.  It  was  finally  subdued  by 
the  Turks,  A.  D.  1289,  who  still  hold  it. 


TYR 


DICTIONARY    OF   THE    BIBLE. 


285 


Tyre  is  now  called  Sour,  which  resembles  its  ancient  He- 
brew name,  Zoi^,  or  Tzor,  and  stands  upon  a  peninsula  which 
projects  into  the  sea  in  an  oval  form.  It  is  a  solid  rock,  cover- 
ed with  brown  earth,  and  is  800  paces  long-,  and  400  broad. 
The  place  is  now  a  miserable  village,  consisting  of  forty  or 
fifty  poor  families,  who  subsist  on  the  produce  of  their  few 
rods  of  land,  and  a  trifling  fishery.  Thus  is  fulfilled  the 
prophecy  that  Tyre,  the  queen  of  nations,  should  be  a  place 
for  fishers  to  spread  their  nets.  (Ezek,  xxvi.  5.)  The  glory 
of  Tyre  is  departed, — and  instead  of  the  greatness  and  com- 
mercial prosperity  described  by  Ezekiel,  (xxvi.  xxvii.  xxviii.) 
there  now  remain  but  a  few  poor  wretches  harbouring  amongst 
the  ruins. 


No.  1.  A.  medal  of  Tyre,  representing,  as  some  have  supposed,  the 
Tyrians  in  t?ie  act  of  presenting  a  plan  of  their  city  to  Dido,  afterwardi? 
Queen  of  Carthage.  But  there  appears  no  reason  why  Dido  should 
wear  the  sacred  measure  on  her  head,  as  that  was  restricted  to  a  divinity. 
It  is  therefore  probable  that  this  figure  is  Astarte,  to  whom  the  Tyrians 
are,  as  it  were,  devoting  their  city,  by  offering  a  representation  of  it 

Ko.  2.  Represents  a  ship,  on  the  acrostolium  of  which  hangs  a  shield, 
a  proper  emblem  of  tliis  mercantile  and  warlike  city.  On  this  vessel 
stands  Astarte,  holding  a  palm  branch  in  her  left  hand  ;  with  her  right 
she  points  with  a  sceptre,  and  is  directing  a  bo}^  genius,  who  is  pouring 
a  vase  of  water  into  the  sea,  from  whence  another  boy  genius  appears 
to  have  recently  taken  two  fishes,  one  of  which,  a  dolphin,  he  offers  to 
the  goddess.  This  scene  appears  to  pass  on  the  sea  shore,  and  may  be 
allied  to  a  custom  still  extant,  which  is  mentioned  by  Volney.  He  says 
there  is  a  well  on  the  shore,  containing  good  water,  but  from  some  un- 
known cause  it  becomes  troubled  in  September,  and  continues  for  some 
days  full  of  a  reddish  clay.  This  season  is  observed  as  a  kind  of  festival 
by  the  inhabitants,  who  then  come  in  crowds  to  the  well,  and  pour  into 
it  a  bucket  of  sea  water,  which  they  believe  has  the  virtue  of  restoring 
the  clearness  of  the  spring. 


286  SCRIPTURE   GEOGRAPHY.  ZAR 

U. 

Ulai,  a  river  of  Susiana  in  Persia,  which  ran  by  the  city 
and  palace  of  Shushan,  the  capital.  It  is  said  to  have  been 
the  greatest  river  of  the  province,  and  that  the  Persian  kings 
used  no  other  water.  On  the  banks  of  this  river  Daniel  had 
a  vision,  described  in  Dan.  viii.  2,  &:c. 

Ummah,  a  city  of  Asher.  Josh.  xix.  30. 

Uphaz,  the  name  of  a  country  producing  gold,  which  some 
suppose  to  be  the  same  as  Ophir.  Calmet  supposes  it  was  the 
region  about  the  river  Phasis,  east  of  the  Euxine  or  Black  Sea. 

Ur,  a  place  in  the  land  of  the  Chaldees,.  which  was  the" 
original  residence  of  Abraliam.     See  Part  I.  p.  29. 

Uz,  the  country  about  Damascus,  including-  part  of  Arabia 
Deserta,  and  extending  to  Arabia  Petraa  on  the  south.  Sec 
Part  I.  p.  22.  This  agrees  with  what  is  said  in  the  book  of 
Job,  (i.  15.  17.)  respecting  his  cattle  being  carried  off  by  the 
Sabeans,  who  were  a  people  of  Arabia;  and  also  of  his  having 
been  robbed  of  his  camels  by  the  Chaldeans,  who  dwelt  on  the 
east  of  Uz. 

UzzEN-sHERAH,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Ephraim,  probably  near 
Beth-horon.  1  Chron.  vii.  24. 


Z. 

Zaanan,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Micah  i.  11.)  written  Zenan  in 
Josh.  XV.  37. 

Zaanannim,  a  city  in  the  limits  of  the  tribe  of  Naphtali. 
Josh.  xix.  33. 

Zair,  a  city  of  Edom,  probably  the  same  as  Scir,  which  is 
a  name  for  Edom.  2  Kings  viii.  21. 

Zalmon,  a  mount  near  Sheehem.  Judges  ix.  48. 

Zalmonah,  an  encampment  of  tlie  Israelites  in  the  wilder 
ness,  near  Mount  Hor.  Numb,  xxxiii.  41. 

Zaphon,  a  city  of  Gad.  Josh.  xiii.  27. 

Zaimziimmims,  a  race  of  giants  who  inhabited  the  country 
east  of  Jordan.     See  Part  I.  p.  52. 

Zaxoah,  tiie  name  of  two  towns  in  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  34.  56. 
Nehem.  iii.  13.  xi.  30. 

Zared,  or  Zcred,  a  brook,  or  valley  of  ]\Ioab,  on  the  east  ot 
Jordan.  Numb.  xxi.  12.  Deut.  ii.  13,  14. 

Zarephath,  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Asher,  situated  on  the 
coast,  between  Tyre  and  Sidon.  This  was  the  place  where 
the  prophet  Elijah  dwelt  while  there  was  a  famine  in  the  lanf 


ZIO  DICTIONARY  OF  THE   BIBLE.  287 

of  Israel.  (1  Kings  xvii.  9,  10.)  It  is  called  Sarepta  in  the 
New  Testament.  (Luke  iv.  26.)  In  the  time  of  Jerom  they 
still  showed  the  place  where  the  prophet  dwelt.  There  is 
yet  a  town  here,  called  Saraphan,  which  consists  of  hut  a  few 
houses  on  the  top  of  the  hills,  half  a  mile  from  the  Mediter- 
ranean, The  ancient  town  probably  stood  between  these  hilla 
and  the  sea,  as  an  extent  of  ruins  is  now  visible  there. 

Zaretan,  a  place  near  tJie  Jordan,  (Josh.  iii.  16.)  called 
Zartanah  in  1  King-s  iv.  12.  and  Zarthan,,  vii.  46.  The  brazen 
vessels  for  the  temple  were  cast  in  the  clay  ground  between 
this  place  and  Succoth. 

Zareth-shahar,  a  city  of  Reuben.  Josh.  xiii.  19. 

Zeboim,  one  of  the  cities  of  the  plain,  destroyed  by  fire 
from  heaven.     See  Part  I.  p.  31. 

A  valley  of  this  name  is  mentioned,  1  Sam.  xiii.  18.  and 
also  a  city  in  the  tribe  of  Benjamin.  Neh.  xi.  34. 

Zebtjlon,  one  of  the  twelve  tribes  of  Israel.  See  Part  I.  p.  66. 

Zedad,  a  place  in  the  northern  border  of  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan. Numb,  xxxiv.  8.  Ezek.  xivii.  15. 

Zelah,  a  city  of  Benjamin,  (Josh,  xviii.  28.)  where  Saul 
was  buried.  2  Sam.  xxi.  14. 

Zelzah,  a  place  in  the  border  of  Benjamin.  1  Sam.  x.  2. 

Zemaraim,  a  town  of  Benjamin,  near  the  border  of  Ephraim. 
Josh,  xviii.  22.  2  Chron.  xiii.  4. 

Zenan,  See  Zaanan. 

Zephath,  and  Zephathah,  a  city  and  valley  in  the  tribe  of 
Simeon.  Judg.  i.  17.  2  Chron.  xiv.  10. 

Zer,  a  town  of  Naphtali.  Josh.  xix.  35. 

Zered,  See  Zared. 

Zereda,  the  native  place  of  Jeroboam,  situated  in  the  tribe 
of  Ephraim,  (1  Kings  xi.  26.)  probably  the  same  as  Zeredatha. 
2  Chron.  iv.  17. 

Zererath,  a  place  in  Manasseh.  Judg.  vii.  22. 

ZiDDiM,  a  city  of  Naphtali.  Josh.  xix.  35. 

ZiDOx,  See  Sidon. 

ZiKLAG,  a  city  of  Judah,  afterwards  given  to  Simeon. 
(Josh.  XV.  31.  xix.  5.)  This  was  a  city  of  the  Philistines,  and 
was  given  to  David  by  Achish,  king  of  Gath ;  after  which  it 
remained  as  a  domain  to  the  kings  of  Judah.  1  Sam.  xxvii.  6. 

ZiN,  a  wilderness  near  Mount  Sinai,  otherwise  called  Sin. 
See  Part  I.  p.  44. 

ZiON,  a  mountain ;  the  same  as  Sion. 

ZiOR,  a  city  of  Judah.  Josh.  xv.  54, 


288  SCRIFTUIIE   GEOGRAPHY.  ZUZ 

ZiPH,  a  city  of  Judah,  (Josli.  xv.  55.)  near  Carmel  and 
Maon,  east  of  Hebron ;  near  which  was  the  wilderness  of 
Ziph,  to  whicii  David  retired.  (1  Sam.  xxiii.  14.)  There  is 
another  place  of  this  name  mentioned  in  Josh.  xv.  24.  as  also 
belonging-  to  Jadah. 

ZiPHRON,  a  place  in  the  northern  limits  of  the  land  of  the 
Israelites.  Numb,  xxxiv.  9. 

Ziz,  a  cliff.  2  Chron.  xx.  16. 

ZoAN,  a  very  ancient  city  of  Egypt,  and  probably  the  first 
royal  seat  of  the  Pharaohs,  or  ancient  kings  of  Egypt.  That 
it  was  tlie  first  built  city  of  Egypt  is  probable  frojn  Numb, 
xiii.  22.  where  we  read  that  Hebron  w^as  built  seven  years 
before  Zoan,  in  Egypt.  This  observation  seems  to  have  been 
made  to  show  the  antiquity  of  Hebron,  which  was  done  by 
naming  the  most  ancient  city  of  Egypt.  Several  of  the 
miracles  wrought  before  Pharaoh  are  said  to  have  been  done 
in  the  field  of  Zoan.  (Psalm  Ixxviii.  12.)  This  city  is  also 
mentioned  by  the  prophets  Isaiah  and  Ezekiel.  Zoan  was 
called  Tanis  by  tlie  Greeks,  and  was  situated  on  the  second 
branch  or  mouth  of  the  Nile,  from  the  east,  which  w^as  thence 
called  the  Tanitic  mouth. 

ZoAR,  one  of  the  five  guilty  cities  of  the  plain,  which  was 
intended  to  be  consumed  with  the  others,  but  was  saved  at 
the  intercession  of  Lot.     See  Part  I.  p.  31. 

ZoBAH,  a  kingdom  of  Syria,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Da- 
mascus. 2  Sam.  viii.  3.  1  Chron.  xviii.  3. 

ZoHELETH,  a  stone  by  the  fountain  of  En-rogcl,  near  the 
walls  of  Jerusalem.  1  Kings  i.  9. 

ZoRAH,  a  city  of  Dau;  the  birth-place  of  Samson.  (Judg. 
xiii.  2.)  It  was  near  the  border  of  Judah,  and  was  rebuilt  or 
fortified  by  Rehoboam.  (2  Chron.  xi.  10.)  It  is  written 
Zoreah  in  Josh.  xv.  33. 

ZuziMs,  a  gigantic  people,  inhabiting  the  country  east  of 
the  Jordan.  Gen.  xiv.  5. 


THE  END. 


SCRIPTURE 

NATURAL   HISTORY; 


OR, 


A  CONCISE  ACCOUNT 


ANIMALS  REFERRED  TO  IN  THE  BIBLE, 


BY 
THOMAS    T.    SMHiEY,   A.M.   M.D. 


■WITH    NUMEROtrS    ENGBAVIIfGS. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
STEREOTYPED  BY  L.  JOHNSON. 


PREFACE 


The  study  of  Natural  History  has  always  been  ranked 
amongst  the  most  liberal  pursuits,  and  has  engaged  the  atten- 
tion and  exercised  the  talents  of  the  learned,  both  in  ancient 
and  modern  times.  If,  therefore,  as  a  subject  of  enlightened 
study  only,  it  has  merited  and  received  deep  attention;  it 
assumes  a  still  more  interesting  character,  when  we  perceive 
that  a  knowledge  of  it  is  so  essential  to  a  clear  understanding 
of.  many  parts  of  the  sacred  writings. 

Almost  every  object  in  nature  has  been  referred  to  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  the  sublime 
truths  contained  therein,  and  the  manners,  habits,  and  in- 
stincts of  the  animal  creation  especially,  have  furnished 
abundant  materials  for  the  illustration  of  the  different  charac- 
ters and  passions  found  amongst  the  human  race.  A  know- 
ledge, therefore,  of  the  manners  and  habits  of  the  animals 
mentioned,  becomes  indispensable  to  a  proper  understanding 
of  those  parts  of  the  Bible  which  refer  to  them,  and  without 
it  they  are  obscure  at  least,  if  not  altogether  unintelligible. 

It  will  at  once  be  perceived,  that  the  object  of  the  author 
has  not  been  to  write  a  regular  treatise  on  Natural  History, 
which  would  have  greatly  exceeded  the  limits  prescribed  to 
this  work,  without  adding  to  the  utility  of  it,  so  far  as  relates 

303 


304  PREFACE. 

to  the  immediate  purpose  under  consideration.  His  object 
has  been  simply  to  present  in  a  plain  and  intelligible  manner, 
such  an  account  of  the  animals  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  as 
would  enable  every  one  to  feel  the  force  and  beauty  of  the 
allusions  to  them  in  the  sacred  text.  If  he  has  succeeded  in 
assisting  his  readers  to  obtain  a  clearer  understanding  of  any 
part  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  his  labour  will  not  have  been 


■ 


SCRIPTURE  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


Adder.  The  adder  is  a  venomous  reptile,  supposed  by 
naturalists  to  be  the  same  with  the  Asp.  The  poison  is  of 
such  a  rapid  operation  that  it  kills  almost  on  the  instant  the 
bite  is  inflicted,  without  the  possibility  of  applying  any  re- 
medy. The  most  remarkable  mention  of  it  is  in  Psalm  Iviii. 
4,  where  the  adder  or  asp  is  said  to  "  stop  its  ears,  that 
it  may  not  hear  the  voice  of  the  charmer."  Some  are  of 
opinion  that  there  is  a  sort  of  adder  really  deaf,  which  is  of 
the  most  dangerous  kind,  and  that  the  Psalmist  here  speaks 
of  this  species.  Some  authors  think  that  the  adder  when  old 
becomes  deaf;  others  again,  that  it,  as  well  as  other  serpents, 
possesses  the  sense  of  hearing  in  an  exquisite  degree,  but  that 
when  any  one  attempts  to  charm  it,  it  stops  its  ears  by  apply- 
ing one  ear  close  to  the  earth  and  stopping  the  other  with  the 
end  of  its  tail.  The  expression  is  probably  taken  from  actual 
observation  of  nature.  That  serpents  are  overcome  as  if 
charmed,  so  that,  while  they  would  bite  some  persons  with 
great  violence,  they  are  harmless  to  others,  has  often  been  as- 
serted by  travellers  in  the  East. 


Ant.  The  ant,  both  by 
sacred  and  profane  wri- 
ters, is  referred  to  as  a 
pattern  of  industry.  "  Go 
to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard, 
consider  her  ways  and  be 
wise,"  (Prov.  vi.  6,)  is  an 
observation  made  by  the 
wisest  of  men.  It  is  said, 
(Prov.  XXX.  25,)  "the 
ants  are  a  people  not 
strong,  yet  they  prepare 
their  meat  in  summer." 
305 


Ant-Hills. 


2  A2 


306 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY. 


APE 


In  our  climate  the  ants  are  small  in  size,  and  in  every  re- 
spect insignificant  animals,  when  compared  with  those  which 
inhabit  the  eastern  tropical  countries,  which  are  no  doubt  the 
kind  referred  to  by  the  sacred  writer.  In  the  East  the  ant  is 
often  found  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  constructs 
works  which  surpass  those  of  the  bees,  beavers,  and  other 
animals,  as  much  at  least  as  those  of  the  most  polished  na- 
tions exceed  those  of  the  least  cultivated  savages.  Their 
dwellings  contain  various  apartments  and  galleries,  construct- 
ed on  a  scale  which,  compared  with  the  size  of  the  architect, 
greatly  exceed  the  labours  of  man.  The  height  of  their 
buildings  is  ten  or  twelve  feet  above  the  ground,  and  their 
galleries  and  subterraneous  passages  extend  about  as  many 
feet  below  the  surface  of  the  earth.  They  are  built  in  so 
solid  a  manner,  that  when  half  constructed,  the  wild  bulls 
stand  on  the  top  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  the  approach  of 
an  enemy,  and  when  completed,  they  support  the  weight  of  a 
man  with  perfect  safety. 

Ape.  The  ape  is  an  animal  of 
the  monkey  tribe,  and  is  mentioned 
(1  Kings  X.  22,)  amongst  the  ca- 
riosities which  Solomon's  fleet 
brought  from  Ophir. 

Those  of  the  monkey  tribe  which 
have  no  tails  are  termed  apes,  and 
those  which  have  short  tails  are 
called  baboons.  Of  all  the  kinds 
of  apes,  the  ouran  outang  most  re- 
sembles mankind.  This  animal 
grows  from  six  to  seven  feet  high, 
and  possesses  strength  as  great  as 
that  of  several  men  together.  They 
build  sheds  for  their  accommoda- 
tion, and  make  use  of  clubs  for 
their  defence.  Their  faces  are 
broad,  noses  flat,  and  their  skins 
are  covered  on  many  parts  of  their  body  with  tawny-coloured 
hair. 

Anciently,  the  Egyptians  and  some  other  nations  worship- 
ped apes,  and  they  are  still  an  object  of  adoration  in  many 
countries  in  the  East. 


The  Ouran  Outang. 


ASS 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


307 


The  Ass. 


Ass.  An  animal  of  the  horse  kind,  with  a  long  head,  long 
ears,  and  round  body,  covered  with  short,  coarse  hair.  Asses 
are  generally  of  a  pale  dun  colour,  with  a  black  streak  along 
the  back  and  another  across  the  shoulders,  with  the  tail  hairy 
only  at  the  end. 

The  Eastern  asses  are  bigger  and  more  beautiful  than  ours, 
and  on  them  did  even  great  men,  as  Abraham,  Moses,  and 
David's  family  ride.  There  are  wild  asses,  which  were  once 
very  common  in  Canaan  and  Arabia,  and  are  still  so  in  Africa; 
they  are  extremely  beautiful,  of  a  gray  colour,  and  run  so  fast 
that  only  the  fleetest  horses  can  overtake  them  ;  they  are  jeal- 
ous of  their  liberty,  and  are  usually  seen  in  herds.  To  the 
wild  asses  the  Ishmaelites  are  compared,  to  represent  their 
perpetual  freedom  and  their  restless  and  savage  temper. 
(Gen.  xvi.  12.)  On  the  banks  of  the  river  Euphrates  were 
asses  altogether  white,  and  on  such  the  Hebrew  princes  rode 
in  the  days  of  Deborah.     (Judg.  v.  10.) 

However  honourable  asses  might  be  among  the  Jews  be- 
fore the  days  of  David,  or  in  more  modern  times  among  the 
lawyers  of  Persia,  yet,  in  the  days  of  our  Saviour,  they  were 
not  in  much  more  respect  than  among  us  at  present,  therefore 
his  riding  upon  one  in  his  triumphant  entry  into  Jerusalem, 
marked  him^  as  the  debased  king  of  Israel.  (Zech.  ix.  9.  John 
xii.  14.) 

Under  the  law,  asses  were  unclean,  and  their  firstlings  were 


308  SCRIPTURE   NATURAL   HISTORY.  BEA 

to  be  redeemed  with  a  lamb,  or  to  have  their  necks  broken, 
and  are  emblems  of  stubborn  and  wicked  men.  Of  old,  the 
ass  was  remarkably  honoured  by  being-  made  tbe  instrument, 
by  the  miraculous  interposition  of  God,  in  rebuking  the  mad- 
ness of  Balaam,  when  he  attempted  to  urge  her  forward  when 
stopped  by  the  fear  of  the  angel.  (Numb.  xxii.  22.)  Nor 
ought  men  to  ridicule  this  story  till  they  demonstrate  the  in- 
capacity of  infinite  power  to  make  this  animal  speak,  or  the 
impropriety  of  rebuking  a  proud  diviner,  by  such  a  stupid 
and  contemptible  creature. 

Badger.  The  badger  is  a  four-footed  animal  which  bur-- 
rows  in  the  earth.  It  is  of  a  greyish  colour,  with  long,  stiff 
hair,  and  it  feeds  on  small  animals,  and  on  the  roots  of  vege- 
tables. The  uppermost  covering  cf  the  tabernacle, according 
to  our  translation,  was  made  of  badgers'  skins,  (Ex.  xxvi. 
14,)  and  they  were  also  used  for  shoes,  (Ezek.  xvi.  10;)  but 
it  is  now  the  general  opinion  of  critics  that  the  original  word 
refers  to  the  colour,  and  not  to  the  animal ;  at  any  rate,  not 
to  the  animal  known  to  us  by  that  name. 

Bat.  This  animal  has  often  been  ranked  with  birds  ;  but 
it  has  the  mouth  of  a  quadruped,  not  the  beak  of  a  bird  :  it  is 
covered  with  hair,  and  produces  its  young  alive,  and  in  fact 
greatly  resembles  a  mouse.  It  has  no  pretensions  to  be  ranked 
amongst  birds,  except  that  it  can  fly;  but  in  that  respect  its 
wing-s  are  entirely  different  from  birds,  being  nothing  more 
than  thin,  fleshy  membranes. 

During  the  winter,  bats  cover  themselves  with  their  wings 
and  hang  in  a  torpid  state,  in  caves  or  old  buildings.  During 
the  summer,  they  hide  themselves  in  the  day,  and  in  the  night 
flutter  about,  catching  flies  and  other  insects.  Some  bats 
have  tails  and  others  have  none.  Some  bats,  in  China  and 
other  countries  of  the  East,  are  as  large  as  hens.  The  large 
bats  of  Brazil,  Madagascar,  and  some  other  countries,  fasten 
on  persons  whom  they  find  sleeping,  and  suck  their  blood. 
Bats  were  unclean  under  the  law.  (Lev.  xi.  19.  Isa.  ii.  20.) 

Bear.  The  bear  is  a  large  four-footed  beast  of  sprey, 
covered  with  a  thick,  shaggy  fur,  so  as  to  appear  like  a  shape- 
less lump.  The  colour  of  the  bear  is  generally  a  blackish 
brown,  but  in  cold  countries  it  is  white.  The  feet  of 
bears  are  so  formed,  that  in  walking  they  always  tread  on 


BEE 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY. 


309 


their  heel.  They  feed  on 
fruits  and  flesh,  and  are 
very  ravenous,  extremely 
kind  to  their  young,  and 
become  dreadfully  enrag- 
ed when  deprived  of  them. 
Bears  are  found  in  most 
countries,  and  they  were 
common  in  Palestine. 
David  attacked  one  as  he 
attended  his  father's  flock, 

and   two  she  bears  tore  in  pieces  forty-two  children,  who 

mocked  the  prophet  Elisha.    (1  Sam.  xvii.  34.  2  Kings  ii. 

23,  24.) 

God  compares  himself  to  a  bear  robbed  of  her  whelps,  to 

mark  his  anger  against  his  enemies.  (Hos.  xiii.  8.  Lam.  iii. 

10.)    Angry  men  are  compared  to  bears  robbed  of  their  young. 

(2  Sam.  xvii.  8.  Prov.  xvii.  12.)     The  Persian  monarchy  is 

represented  by  a  bear,  (Dan.  vii.  5,)  and  Antichrist  is  said  to 

have  the  feet  of  a  bear.  (Rev.  xiii.  2.) 


The  Bear. 


Bee.  The  bee  is 
a  small  insect,  and 
very  remarkable  for 
skill  and  industry  in 
gathering  honey  and 
wax  from  flowers. 
Bees  have  four  wings, 
and  a  tail  pointed  with 
a  sting,  through  which 
they  emit  a  poisonous 
juice,  and  which,being 
barbed,  often  remains 
in  the  wound. 

There  are  several 
^  kinds  of  wild  bees, 
"■  but  the  common  bees 
have  most  attracted 
the  attention  of  man. 
Their  sagacity  in  collecting  their  honey  and  wax,  in  forming 
their  combs,  in  distributing  their  labours,  and  in  punishing 
idlers,  is  very  remarkable.  They  seldom  hurt  any  one  with 
their  stings  unless  hurt  or  provoked.     Among  the  bees  are 


Hive  of  Bees. 


310  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  BEH 

three  kinds  in  the  same  family  or  hive  ;  the  queen,  the  labour- 
ing bees,  and  the  drones.  The  queen  deposits  her  eggs  in 
cells  prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  so  brings  forth  a  new- 
swarm,  to  the  number  perhaps  of  twenty  thousand  in  a  year. 
There  are  sometimes  two  or  three  queens  in  the  same  hive, 
and  they  are  much  larger  than  any  of  the  other  bees. 
The  labouring  bees  are  far  the  most  numerous,  and  collect 
the  wax  and  honey,  and  prepare  the  combs  in  which  the 
honey  is  deposited.  The  drones,  or  males,  are  larger  than 
the  common  working  bees,  but  are  not  so  large  as  the 
queens. 

The  land  of  Judea  was  especially  noted  for  the  multitude 
of  bees,  and  is  often  denominated  a  land  flowing  with  milk 
and  honey.  Under  the  law  the  bee  was  unclean,  (Lev.  xi. 
23,)  though  its  honey  was  not.  The  armies  of  the  Amorites, 
the  Assyrians,  and  David's  enemies,  are  compared  to  bees, 
(Deut.  i.  44.    Ps.  cxviii.  12.  Isa.  vii.  18.) 

In  Palestine  and  the  adjoining  countries,  the  bee-hives 
are  usually  made  of  clay,  about  four  feet  long  and  half  a  foot 
in  diameter.  They  lay  ten  or  twelve  of  these  over  one  another 
and  cover  them  with  a  little  roof. 


n  ^ 

1, 

'"^T-s?^"*'^^ 

1^ 

_,:_/ 

^>v 

J 

The   Hippopotamus. 

Behemoth.  To  convince  Job  of  his  insignificance  before 
him,  God  requires  him  to  consider  this  animal.  He  represents 
him  as  made  with  him,  or  near  to  his  abode,  harmlessly  feed- 
ing on  the  grass  of  mountains,  lying  among  willows,  reeds, 
and  fens,  and  as  extremely  fierce  and  courageous.  The  word 
Behemoth  is  Hebrew,  and  often  signifies  beasts  in  general, 


BIT  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  311 

but  in  Job  xl.  15—24,  it  has  a  reference  to  some  particular 
animal.  It  is  now  generally  conceded  to  be  the  river  horse, 
or  hippopotamus. 

The  hippopotamus  is  a  quadruped  resembling-  partly  the 
buffalo  and  partly  the  bear,  though  longer  than  either.  His 
length  from  head  to  tail  is  about  thirteen  feet,  his  girth  about 
the  same,  and  his  height  six  feet.  His  head  is  large  in  pro- 
portion, destitute  of  horns,  and  his  mouth  opens  very  wide. 
His  eyes  are  small,  and  his  ears  also  small  and  thin.  In  the 
lower  jaw  he  has  two  tusks,  about  a  foot  long  and  somewhat 
crooked.  His  teeth  are  hard  as  flint,  and  will  strike  fire  with 
steel.  His  legs  resemble  those  of  a  bear,  are  about  three  feet 
round,  and  three  feet  and  a  half  in  length ;  and  each  foot  has  a 
black  hoof,  divided  into  four  claws  at  the  end.  His  tail  is 
very  thick  and  short,  tapering  away  to  the  end,  and  cannot 
be  twisted,  and  his  skin  is  very  thick  and  exceedingly  tough. 
As  he  is  not  formed  for  swimming,  he  walks  on  the  bottom 
of  the  river  as  other  animals  do  on  land.  He  feeds  on 
fish,  which  he  is  said  to  catch  with  great  facility,  and  also 
comes  out  frequently  on  the  land  to  feed  on  rice,  clover,  and 
other  vegetables,  destroying  by  his  huge  feet  more  than  he 
eats. 

When  pursued  on  land,  he  cannot  move  fast,  and  his  re- 
source is  to  plunge  into  the  water  and  swim  a  great  distance 
before  he  reappears.  He  commonly  retreats  from  his  pur- 
suers, but  if  wounded,  he  becomes  furious,  and  facing  about, 
rushes  against  the  boats,  seizes  them  with  his  teeth,  often 
tears  pieces  out  of  them,  and  sometimes  sinks  them  under 
water. 

"  I  have  seen,"  says  a  traveller,  "  an  hippopotamus  open 
his  mouth,  fix  one  tooth  on  the  side  of  the  boat,  and  another 
to  the  second  plank  under  the  keel,  that  is,  four  feet  distant 
from  each  other,  pierce  the  side  through  and  through,  and  in 
this  manner  sink  the  boat  to  the  bottom." 

These  animals  are  only  numerous  in  some  parts  of  the 
world  ;  it  even  appears  that  the  species  is  confined  to  particu- 
lar climates,  and  is  seldom  to  be  met  with  out  of  the  rivers 
of  Africa. 

Bittern.  Of  all  the  sounds  produced  by  the  feathered 
race,  there  is  none  so  dismal  as  that  produced  by  the  bittern. 
It  is  described  as  resembling  the  interrupted  bellowings  of  a 
bull,  but  louder ;  and  is  heard  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  as 


312 


SCRIPTURE   NATURAL   HISTORY. 


BOA 


if  issuing  from  some  formidable  being 
that  resided  at  the   bottom  of  the 

waters. 

Considerino^  the  dismal  sound  ut- 
tered by  this  bird,  there  would  there- 
fore be  a  peculiar  propriety,  when  it 
was  intended  to  prophesy  the  utter 
desolation  of  a  city,  to  say  that  it 
should  become  "  a  possession  to  the 
bittern,"  as  in  the  prophecy  against 
Babylon,  (Isa.  xxxiv.  12,)  and  that 
"  the  cormorant  and  the  bittern  shall 
lodge"  in  it,  as  in  the  prophecy 
against  Idumea.  (Zeph.  ii.  14.) 
The  bittern  is  a  bird  of  the  heron 
The  Bittern.  kind,  but  less ;  being  not  over  four 

inches  long.  It  differs  from  the  heron 
chiefly  in  its  colour,  which  is  in  general  of  a  palish  yellow, 
spotted  and  barred  with  black.  It  is  a  retired,  timorous  bird, 
concealing  itself  in  the  midst  of  reeds  and  marshy  places, 
and  living  upon  frogs,  insects,  and  vegetables,  and  though  so 
nearly  resembling  the  heron  in  figure,  differing  much  in  man- 
ners and  appetite. 

The  foregoing  description  applies  to  the  bird  now  known 
by  the  name  of  the  bittern,  but  whether  it  is  the  animal  to 
which  the  sacred  writer  referred  in  the  texts  quoted,  cannot 
certainly  be  determined.  The  word  here  translated  bittern, 
has  by  some  interpreters  been  rendered  the  owl,  a  tortoise, 
the  beaver ;  and  Bochart  will  have  it  the  hedge-hog.  Not- 
withstanding all  these  conjectures,  however,  we  incline  to  the 
opinion  that  the  word  has  been  correctly  rendered  by  our 
translators. 


Boar.  The  wild  boar  is  usually  thought  to  be  the  parent 
of  the  swine  kind.  It  inhabits  Asia  as  well  as  Europe,  and 
retains  its  character  and  manners  in  almost  every  climate. 

It  is  well  known  that  the  flesh  of  the  hog  or  swine  was  for- 
bidden, as  food,  to  the  Hebrews,  (Lev.  xi.  7.  Deut.  xiv.  8,) 
who  held  its  flesh  in  such  detestation  that  they  would  not  so 
much  as  pronounce  its  name.  Amongst  the  gross  abomina- 
tions of  M'hich  the  Israelites  were  guilty  in  the  time  of  Isaiah, 
that  of  eating  swine's  flesh  is  mentioned,  (Isa.  Ixv.  4,)  and 
for  which  punishment  is  denounced.  (Isa.  Ixvi.  17.) 


BUL  SCRIPTURE   NAftJRAL   HIStORV. 


313 


The  Bull, 

Bull.  Bullock.  Ox.  The  male  of  the  cow  kind.  The 
Jews  never  mutilated  any  of  their  male  animals,  nor  do  the 
Mahometans,  at  the  present  time ;  their  oxen  were,  therefore^ 
bulls,  properly  so  called.  Besides  the  tame  kind,  whose 
strength,  fierceness,  and  pushing  with  their  horns  are  well 
known,  there  is  a  wild  kind  of  bulls  found  in  various  parts 
of  the  world,  which  are  of  great  size,  exceedingly  fierce  and 
swift,  and  dwell  in  extensive  forests,  chiefly  in  Europe  and 
Africa*  Another  kind  of  wild  bull  is  called  the  buffalo,  mul- 
titudes of  which  run  Vvild  in  the  forests  of  America,  which 
is  a  large,  shaggy,  fierce  animal.  There  are  also  a  great 
number  of  wild  buffalos  in  the  countries  of  Africa  and  India, 
which  are  watered  with  many  rivers,  and  furnished  with  large 
meadows. 

The  bison  or  American  buffalo,  is  the  most  remarkable 
animal  of  the  ox  kind,  now  found  in  the  wild  state.  A  single 
herd  is  said  sometimes  to  contain  ten  thousand.  These  im- 
mense herds  are  found  on  the  prairies  which  border  on  the 
Missouri  river.  By  surrounding  and  frightening  them,  the 
Indians  sometimes  drive  a  whole  herd  over  a  precipice,  by 
which  they  are  destroyed. 

With  the  Hebrews,  bulls  were  clean  animals.  Bullocks 
or  young  bulls  were  often  sacrificed  in  burnt-ofl^erings  and 
peace-offerings,  and  sometimes  in  sin-offerings.  They  re- 
presented the  pure,  patient,  strong,  and  laborious  Redeemer, 
sacrificed  for  us.  (Heb.  ix.  13, 14.)  The  twelve  brazen  oxen 
2B 


314  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  CAL 

which  supported  Solomon's  brazen  sea,  three  of  which  looked 
to  every  quarter,  mijrht  represent  the  twelve  Apostles  and 
their  successors  in  the  gospel  ministry,  who  labour  to  exhibit 
Jesus  as  the  great  means  of  purification  from  sin.  (1  Kings, 
vii.  25 — 44.  Jer.  Hi.  20.)  Wicked  men,  chiefly  rulers,  are 
called  bulls  of  Bashan,  to  denote  their  strength  and  fierce- 
ness. Bashan  was  a  district  of  country,  east  of  the  Jordan, 
noted  for  its  rich  pastures  and  fine  cattle  ;  hence  the  pro- 
priety of  the  comparison.  A  great  many  similar  compari- 
sons, in  relation  to  this  animal,  are  to  be  found  in  the 
Scriptures. 

The  cow  is  the  female  of  the  ox  kind,  and  very  noted  for 
her  nutritious  and  wholesome  milk.  A  young  cow  is  called 
a  heifer.  The  young  of  the  cow  is  called  a  calf.  Amongst 
the  Hebrews,  cows  and  heifers,  as  well  as  oxen,  were  used  to 
draw  the  plough.  When  a  man  was  found  slain  in  the  field, 
and  the  murderer  could  not  be  found,  the  magistrates  of  the 
city  next  to  the  spot,  took  a  heifer  which  had  never  been 
yoked,  and  after  striking  off  her  head,  they  washed  their 
hands  in  water,  protesting  their  innocence  of  the  crime,  and 
ignorance  of  the  murderer,  and  together  with  the  Levites 
present,  solemnly  begged  that  God  would  not  lay  it  to  the 
charge  of  their  nation.   (Deut.  xxi.  1 — 9.) 

As  the  Hebrews  had  seen,  and  perhaps  many  of  them  had 
worshipped,  the  Egyptian  god,  Apis,  which  was  a  living  bull, 
and  sometimes  adored  in  the  form  of  one,  or  in  the  form  of  a 
man  with  a  bull's  head,  they  instigated  Aaron  to  make  them 
a  golden  calf  in  the  wilderness,  to  which  they,  on  the  day 
after,  observed  a  solemn  festival.  (Ex.  xxxii.)  When  Jero- 
boam, the  son  of  Nebat,  who  had  resided  for  a  time  in  Egypt, 
got  possession  of  the  kingdom  of  Israel,  he  made  two  golden 
calves,  the  one  he  placed  at  Bethel,  in  the  south,  and  the 
other  at  Dan,  in  the  north  of  his  kingdom.  These  calves,  the 
ten  tribes  continued  to  worship  for  about  two  hundred  and 
sixty  years,  till  the  kingdom  of  Israel  was  destroyed,  and  the 
people  carried  into  captivity  by  the  Assyrians.  (1  Kings  xii. 
27,  28.    Hos.  x.  5 ;  xiii.  2.    2  Kings  xvii.) 

Calf.  The  young  of  the  cow  kind.  It  is  generally  thought 
that  the  Israelites,  in  making  a  golden  calf,  which  they  wor- 
shipped in  the  wilderness,  (Ex.  xxxii.,)  were  imitating  the 
Egyptians  in  the  worship  of  Apis,  whom  they  intended  to 
represent  by  the  image  which  they  constructed,  as  did  Je- 


CAM 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


315 


Toboam  also,  in  setting  up  the  calves  at  Bethel,  1  Kings,  xii. 
27—30.     See  Bull. 


The  Cumel. 

Camel.  The  camel  and  the  dromedary  do  not  include  two 
different  species,  but  only  indicate  two  distinct  breeds,  sub- 
sisting from  time  immemorial,  in  the  camel  species.  The 
principal,  and  indeed  the  only  perceptible  character  in  which 
they  differ,  consists  in  the  camel's  bearing  two  bunches  or 
protuberances  on  its  back,  and  the  dromedary  only  one.  The 
dromedary  is  also  less,  and  not  so  strong  as  the  camel ;  but 
they  both  herd  and  breed  together,  and  the  production  from 
this  cross  breed  is  more  vigorous,  and  of  greater  value  than 
the  others.  The  dromedary  is,  beyond  comparison,  more 
numerous  and  more  universal  than  the  camel ;  the  c&mel 
being  seldom  found  in  any  other  place  than  Turkey,  while 
the  dromedar)^  is  to  be  found  in  all  the  northern  parts  of 
Africa,  in  Egypt,  Persia,  in  South  Tartary,  and  in  all  the 
northern  parts  of  India. 

The  camel  appears  to  be  a  native  of  Arabia,  and  his  whole 
organization  fits  him  for  a  residence  in  a  sandy  and  barren 
country.  His  feet  are  formed  for  travelling  in  the  sand,  and 
are  broad  and  flat  to  prevent  him  from  sinking.  He  is  also 
able  to  live  without  drink  for  seven  or  eight  days,  and  to  feed 
on  the  hardest  and  driest  herbage.  The  Arabs  regard  the 
camel  as  a  present  from  heaven,  without  whose  assistance 
they  could  neither  exist,  trade,  or  travel.  With  his  aid,  in  a 
single  day,  they  can  place  a  tract  of  desert  of  fifty  miles, 
between  them  and  their  enemies,  and  all  the  armies  in  the 
world  would  soon  perish  in  pursuit  of  a  troop  of  Arabs, 


316  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  CAM 

Camels  are  covered  ^vith  fine  hair,  which  they  cast  in  the 
sprinof,  and  from  uhich  a  fine  kind  of  stuff  is  made.  Their 
necks  and  legs  are  long-  and  slender,  and  when  they  lift  up 
their  head  it  is  very  high.  Their  ears  'are  short,  and  their 
tail  about  a  foot  long.  Though  camels  chew  the  cud,  yet,  as 
the  division  of  their  hoof  is  not  complete,  they  were  marked 
out  by  the  law  as  unclean. 

The  camel,  in  ancient  times,  formed  a  large  part  of  the 
wealth  of  great  men.  Abraham,  (Gen.  xii.  16,)  Jacob,  (Gen. 
XXX.  43,)  and  especially  Job,  had  large  numbers  of  them. 
The  Midianites  and  Amalekites,  (Judg.  vi.  5;  vii.  12,)  had 
camels  without  number.  The  Reubenites  took  fifty  thousand 
from  the  Hagarites.  (1  Chron.  v.  21.)  The  clothing  of  John 
the  Baptist  was  of  camel's  hair.  (Matt,  iii,  4.)  In  the  re- 
ference to  this  animal  by  our  Saviour,  (Matt.  xix.  24,  and 
xxiii.  24,)  the  expressions  are  no  doubt  proverbial. 

Camelion  or  Chamelion.  This  animal  is  a  kind  of  lizard, 
with  a  long  flat  tail,  and  usually  of  a  greenish  yellow  colour. 
On  each  of  its  four  feet  it  has  five  toes,  two  or  three  of  which 
adhere  together.  Its  snout  is  long,  and  it  has  two  small 
openings  for  its  nostrils;  its  eyes  move  in  every  direction, 
and  often  with  a  contrary  motion.  To  catch  flies  it  can  dart 
out  its  tongue  to  the  length  of  its  whole  body,  and  instantly 
contract  it  again.  Some  camelions,  in  Egypt,  including  the 
tail,  are  a  foot  in  length.  The  camelion  was  once,  very  un- 
philosophically,  believed  to  live  on  air.  Its  principal  food  is 
flies,  which  it  catches  with  great  facility,  by  darting  out  its 
tongue  in  the  manner  already  described.  Like  the  croco- 
dile, this  animal  proceeds  from  an  egg,  and  in  its  form,  bears 
a  strong  resemblance  to  that  animal. 

The  colour  of  this  animal,  in  the  shade,  is  a  bluish  gray, 
inclining  in  some  places  to  a  pale  red  and  yellow.  But  when 
it  is  removed  into  the  sun,  then  comes  the  wonderful  part  of 
its  history.  At  first  it  appears  to  suffer  no  change  of  colour, 
but  the  whole  surface  soon  seem.s  to  imbibe  tiie  rays  of  light, 
and  the  simple  colouring  of  the  body  changes  into  a  variety 
of  beautiful  hues.  Wherever  the  light  comes  on  the  body,  it 
is  of  a  tawny  brown,  but  that  part  of  the  skin  on  which  the 
sun  does  not  shine,  changes  into  several  brighter  colours, 
pale  yellow,  or  vivid  crimson,  which  forms  spots  of  the  size 
of  half  one's  finger;  some  of  these  descend  from  the  spine 
halfway  down  the  back,  and  others  appear  on  the  sides,  arms, 


CHA  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  317 

and  tail.  Sometimes  the  animal  becomes  all  over  spotted 
with  brown  spots  of  a  greenish  cast.  The  camelion  is  found 
in  all  warm  countries,  both  of  the  old  and  new  world. 

According  to  the  Levitical  Law,  (Lev.  xi.  30,)  the  came- 
lion was  ranked  among  the  unclean  animals. 

Caterpillar.  When  the  sun  calls  up  vegetation,  and 
vivifies  the  various  eggs  of  insects,  the  caterpillars  are  the 
first  that  are  seen  to  make  their  appearance.  All  this  class 
have  eight  feet,  at  least,  and  some  sixteen,  which  may  serve 
to  distinguish  them  from  the  worm  kind,  which  never  have 
so  many. 

When  the  caterpillar  first  bursts  from  its  egg,  it  is  weak 
and  feeble,  and  its  appetites  are  in  proportion  to  its  size ;  but 
in  its  adult  caterpillar  state,  it  becomes  the  most  ravenous 
of  all  animals,  and  will  eat  twice  its  own  weight  of  leaves 
in  a  day.  What  would  mankind  do  if  their  oxen  or  horses 
were  equally  voracious? 

The  body  of  the- caterpillar,  when  anatomically  examined, 
is  found  composed  of  rings,  whose  circumference  is  pretty 
near  circular  or  oval.  They  are  generally  twelve  in  number, 
and  are  all  membranous,  by  which  this  animal  may  be  dis- 
tinguished from  any  other  insect  that  nearly  resembles  it  in 
form.  Caterpillars  also,  with  regard  to  their  external  figure, 
are  either  smooth  or  hairy.  The  skin  of  the  first  kind  is  soft 
to  the  touch,  or  hard,  like  shagreen.  The  skin  of  the  latter, 
is  hairy,  and,  as  it  w^ere,  thorny,  and  generally,  if  handled, 
stings  like  nettles. 

The  life  of  the  caterpillar  is  almost  one  continued  change; 
it  undergoes  eight  or  ten  transformations  before  it  assumes 
th€  last,  or  butterfly  state. 

When  caterpillars  are  mentioned  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  it 
is  either  in  reference  to  their  immense  numbers,  or  to  their 
destructive  and  voracious  habits,  and  they  are  considered  as 
instruments,  in  the  hands  of  the  Almighty,  for  inflicting  his 
vengeance  against  the  ungodly.     By  caterpillars,  the  Lord 

Jlagued  the  Egyptians  and  wicked  Jews.     (Ps.  Ixxviii.  46. 
oel  i.  4;  ii.  25.) 

Chamelion.     The  chamelion,  of  which  there  are  two  or 

three  species,  like  other  animals  of  the  lizard  tribe,  much 

resembles  the  crocodile  in  form,  but  differs  greatly  in  size, 

being  about  ten  inches  long  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the 

2B2 


318 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


coc 


end  of  the  tail.  This  creature  is  chiefly  remarkable  for  the 
change  of  its  colour  to  the  colour  of  the  objects  with  which 
it  comes  in  contact.     See  Camelion. 

Chamois.  The  chamois  is  only- 
found  on  the  most  cragg-y  places  of 
the  highest  mountains.  The  Alps, 
the  Pyrenees,  the  mountains  of 
Greece,  and  those  of  the  Archipe- 
lago, are  almost  the  only  places 
where  it  is  to  be  met  with. 

The  chamois  is  a  vnXA  animal,  but  -i- 
easily  tamed,  and  very  docile.  It  is 
about  the  size  of  a  domestic  goat,  and  resembles  one  in  many 
respects.  It  is  very  agreeable,  lively,  and  active,  beyond 
expression.  Its  hair  is  short,  like  that  of  the  doe.  In  spring 
it  is  of  an  ash  colour,  and  in  winter,  of  a  blackish  brown. 
As  they  bound  from  rock  to  rock,  they  have  rather  the  ap- 
pearance of  flying  than  leaping.  The  chamois  feeds  upon  the 
best  herbage,  drinks  but  very  little,  and  ruminates,  like  the 
goat,  in  the  intervals  of  feeding.  Its  head  is  crowned  with 
two  small  horns  of  about  half  a  foot  long,  of  a  beautiful  black 
colour,  and  rising  from  the  forehead,  almost  betwixt  the  eyes. 

The  hides  of  these  animals  are  very  strong  and  supple,  and 
good  warm  waistcoats  and  gloves  are  made  of  them.  The 
hunting  of  the  chamois  is  very  laborious,  as  well  as  exceed- 
ingly difficult  and  dangerous. 

This  animal,  by  the  Hebrew  law,  (Dcut.  xiv.  5,)  was  de- 
clared to  be  unclean;  but  it  is  disputed  whether  the  Hebrew 
word,  so  translated,  was  really  intended  to  be  applied  to  the 
animal  which  now  bears  this  name. 

Cock.  A  well  known  domestic 
fowl,  which  has  his  head  orna- 
mented with  a  long  fleshy  crest, 
or  comb,  and  has  two  wattles, 
lengthwise,  under  his  throat.  He 
is  a  robust  and  beautiful  animal, 
whose  feathers  are  often  variegated 
with  a  number  of  elegant  colours. 
He  usually  crows  at  two  different 
times  of  the  night ;  the  first  time,  a  __ 
little  after  midnight,  and  a  second^^ 
time,  about  break  of  day.  This  last  The  Cock. 


COR  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  319 

is  usually  called  cock-crowing,  and  at  this  time  the  cock  crew 
for  the  second  time,  after  Peter  had  thrice  denied  his  Master. 
(Mark  xiv.  68—72.) 

The  hen,  the  female  of  the  fowl  kind,  is  so  w^ell  known  for 
her  great  care  and  tenderness  of  her  young,  that  it  is  unne- 
cessary to  do  any  thing  more  than  refer  to  it.  Our  Lord,  in 
his  pathetic  lamentation  over  Jerusalem,  represents  himself  as 
having  felt  all  the  solicitude  of  a  hen  for  her  brood,  but  it 
would  not  accept  his  kindness  and  protection.  (Matt.xxiii.37.) 

Cockatrice.  It  does  not  appear  that  any  such  creature 
exists.  The  word  so  translated  in  our  Bibles,  ought  to  be 
rendered  serpent.  It  appears  to  have  been  a  most  venomous 
serpent  which  lurked  in  the  holes  of  the  earth.  (Isa.  xi.  8; 
xiv.  29;  lix.  5.     Jer.  viii.  17.) 

Colt.  The  young  of  the  horse  kind.  The  ass  on  which 
our  Saviour  rode  on  his  entry  into  Jerusalem  had  a  colt  with 
her.     (Matt.  xxi.  4,  5.)     See  Horse. 

Coney.  The  coney  is  believed  to  have  been  a  species  of 
the  rabbit  or  hare;  but  by  the  expressions  in  the  Scriptures 
would  seem  to  have  been  of  a  smaller  size.  Some  have 
thought  that  the  jerboa  or  jumping  mouse,  which  is  very 
common  in  Palestine,  w^as  the  animal  intended.  (Deut.  xiv.  7. 
Ps.  civ.  18.     Prov.  xxx.  26.) 

Cormorant.  This  is  an  aquatic  bird  of  the  pelican  kind, 
about  the  size  of  a  large  muscovy  duck,  and  may  be  distin- 
guished by  its  four  toes  being  united  b}^  membranes  together, 
and  by  the  middle  toe  being  toothed  or  notched,  like  a  saw, 
to  assist  in  holding  its  fishy  prey.  The  head  and  neck  of  this 
bird  are  of  a  sooty  blackness,  and  the  body  thick  and  heavy, 
more  inclining,  in  figure,  to  that  of  the  goose  than  the  gull. 
They  are  remarkably  voracious,  and  have  a  most  sudden 
digestion.  Their  appetite  is  forever  craving  and  never  satis- 
fied. 

This  bird  has  the  most  rank  and  disagreeable  smell,  and  is 
more  fetid  than  even  carrion,  in  its  most  healthful  state.  It 
is  seen  as  well  by  land  as  sea ;  it  fishes  in  fresh  water  lakes, 
as  w^ell  as  in  the  depths  of  the  ocean.  It  builds  in  the  cliffs 
of  the  rocks  as  well  as  on  trees,  and  preys  not  only  in  the  day 
time,  but  at  night.     Its  power  of  catching  fish  has  induced 


320 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


CRA 


some  nations,  as  the  Chinese,  to  breed  this  bird  up  tame,  for 
that  purpose. 

According  to  the  Hebrew  law,  the  cormorant  was  among 
the  unclean  birds.  (Lev.  xi.  17.  Deut.  xiv.  17.)  It  is  re- 
ferred to  in  the  prophecies  ag-ainst  Idumea,  (Tsa.  xxxiv.  11,) 
and  Nineveh,  (Zcph.  ii.  14,)  as  an  emblem  of  desolation. 

Cow  or  KiNE.  The  female  of  the  ox  kind.  The  milk 
of  the  cow  is  celebrated  over  the  whole  v.orld  for  its  whole- 
some and  nutritious  qualities.     See  Bull. 

Crane.  This  is  a  tall,  slender 
bird,  with  a  long  neck  and  long 
legs.  The  top  of  the  head  is  co- 
vered with  black  bristles,  and  the 
back  of  it  is  bald  and  red,  which 
sufficiently  distinguishes  this  bird 
from  the  stork,  to  which  it  is 
nearly  allied  in  size  and  figure. 
The  plumage,  in  general,  is  ash 
coloured,  and  there  are  two  large 
tufts  that  spring  from  the  pinion^^ 
of  each  wing.  These  bear  a  re  ^ 
semblance  to  hair,  finely  curled  at  The  Crane, 

the  end,  and  the  bird  has  the  power  of  erecting  or  depressing 
them  at  pleasure.  The  height  of  the  common  crane  is  about 
three  feet,  and  its  length  four  feet,  though  the  body  is  not 
heavier  than  that  of  a  turkey. 

Besides  the  species  above  described,  there  are  two  other 
varieties  of  the  crane.  The  crowned  or  Belearic,  and  gigan- 
tic crane.  The  Belearic  crane  com.es  from  the  coast  of  Afri- 
ca and  the  Cape  Verd  Islands,  and  is'  about  four  feet  high. 
The  gigantic  crane  is  much  larger  than  the  other  species, 
measuring,  from  tip  to  tip  of  the  wings,  fifteen  feet,  and  in 
height,  seven  feet  and  a  half,  when  standing  erect.  The 
gigantic  crane  is  an  inhabitant  of  Bengal,  and  is  sometimes 
found  on  the  coast  of  Guinea. 

The  crane  is  a  very  social  bird,  and  is  seldom  seen  alone. 
Their  usual  method  of  tlying  or  sitting,  is  in  flocks  of  fifty  or 
sixty  together,  and  while  a  part  feed,  the  rest  stand  as  senti- 
nels on  duty.  For  the  most  part,  it  subsists  upon  vegetables, 
and  frequently  makes  great  destruction  in  the  fields  of  com. 
As  they  are  birds  of  passage,  they  are  seen  to  depart  and  re- 


DEE  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  321 

turn  regularly,  at  those  seasons  when  their  provision  invites 
or  repels  thein.  In  their  migrations,  it  is  amazing  to  conceive 
the  heights  to  which  they  ascend  when  they  fly.  Their  note 
is  the  loudest  of  all  birds,  and  is  often  heard  in  the  clouds, 
when  the  bird  itself  is  entirely  beyond  the  sight. 

The  cold  Arctic  region  seems  to  be  the  favourite  abode  of 
these  birds,  and  they  come  down  into  the  more  southern 
climates,  rather  as  visiters  than  as  inhabitants. 

Hezekiah  compares  his  cries  of  pain  and  distress,  during  his 
sickness,  to  the  notes  of  this  bird,  (Isa.  xxxviii.  14,)  and  the 
Jews  w^ere  more  stupid  than  cranes,  storks,  and  turtles, 
because  they  knew  not  the  proper  season  of  duty.  (Jer. 
viii.  7.)  .      - 

Cuckoo.  This  is  a  solitary  bird,  whose  beak  is  smooth, 
its  nostrils  hang  a  little  forward,  and  its  tongue  is  shaped 
somewhat  like  an  arrow.  It  has  four  toes;  two  before  and 
two  behind,  and  its  bulk  is  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  sparrow 
hawk.  Though  this  bird  cannot  boast  much  of  its  plumage, 
yet  it  is  conspicuous  for  the  lightness  of  its  form  and  for  its 
peculiar  habits.  It  is  about  fourteen  inches  in  length,  shaped 
somewhat  like  a  magpie,  and  distinguished  from  all  other 
birds  by  its  round,  prominent  nostrils.  The  head,  neck, 
back,  and  wings,  are  of  a  dove  colour;  the  throat  is  pale 
gray,  and  the  breast  and  belly  white,  crossed  with  wavy- 
lines  of  black.  The  legs  are  of  a  yellow  colour,  and  the 
claws  white.  It  was  once  doubted  whether  this  bird  was 
carnivorous,  but  it  has  been  found  that  their  favourite  food 
consists  of  insects  and  flesh. 

The  female  cuckoo  is  said  to  make  no  nest  of  her  own,  but 
to  deposit  a  single  egg  in  the  nest  of  some  other  bird,  by  whom 
it  is  hatched,  and  the  young  reared. 

The  cuckoo  is  mentioned  among  the  unclean  birds,  (Lev. 
xi.  16;)  but  it  is  very  doubtful  whether  the  bird  now  known 
by  that  name,  is  intended.  Bochart,  and  some  others,  have 
thought  the  Hebrew  word  should  have  been  rendered  the 
sea-mew,  or  gull,  but  it  is  impossible  to  determine  this  point 
with  certainty. 

Deer.  This  is  the  name  of  a  race  of  quadrupeds  which 
includes  several  species  ;  as  the  stag,  or  red  deer,  fallow 
deer,  roebuck,  reindeer,  elk,  moose,  and  some  others. 

All  the  deer  kind  have  branchy  horns,  which  at  first  are 


322  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  DOG 

rouffh,  but  become  smooth,  r.nd  fall  off  yearly,  and  the  female 
seldom  has  any  horns. 

The  stajT-  is  one  of  those  mild,  tranquil,  and  innocent  ani- 
mals which  seem  as  if  they  were  formed  solely  to  adorn  and 
animate  the  solitude  of  the  forests,  and  enjoy,  remote  from 
man,  the  peaceful  retreats  of  nature. 

The  horns  of  the  stag  continue  to  increase  in  bulk  and 
heijrht  every  year;  from  the  second  to  the  eijrhth,  they  remain 
beautiful,  and  much  the  same  during  the  vigour  of  life;  but 
as  their  body  declines  with  age,  their  horns  decline  also.  The 
horns  of  all  the  kinds  of  deer  are,  strictly,  a  bone,  which 
sprouts  from  the  bone  of  the  forehead,  and  falling  off  every 
year,  is  again  renewed.  The  annual  shedding  of  the  horns 
forms  an  important  distinction  between  the  deer  and  goat 
kind,  as  animals  of  the  goat  kind  never  shed  their  horns. 

The  stag,  or  red  deer,  is  about  four  feet  high.  The  male 
is  called  a  hart,  the  female,  a  hind.  The  most  common  co- 
lour of  the  stag  is  yellow,  though  there  are  many  found  of  a 
tawn}?-  red  colour. 

The  stag  and  fallow  deer,  though  of  different  species,  have 
a  very  close  resemblance  to  each  other. 

The  roebuck  is  much  smaller  than  the  stag,  with  horns 
much  less  spreading  and  elegant.  The  female  is  called 
the  roe. 

The  food  of  the  deer  is  entirely  vegetable,  consisting 
chiefly  of  the  tender  shoots  of  trees,  buds,  and  moss.  The 
deer  is  a  thirsty  animal,  drinking  frequently,  and  in  warm 
weather,  plunging  into  the  stream.  The  deer  were  allowed 
to  be  eaten,  by  the  ceremonial  law.  (Lev.  xi,  3.  Deut.  xiv.  5.) 

The  deer  is  frequently  mentioned  in  Scripture;  but  gene- 
rally under  the  name  o^  hart  and  hind. 

Dog.  This  is  a  well  known  domestic  animal,  consisting 
of  a  great  number  of  varieties,  differing  greatly  in  character 
and  appearance.  The  dog,  amongst  the  Jews,  (and  at  the 
present  time,  in  the  east,)  was  held  in  great  contempt.  The 
condition  of  the  dogs  amongst  the  Jews,  probably  did  not 
differ  much  from  that  which  now  exists  in  the  east,  where 
they  run  about  in  troops,  without  any  distinct  owners,  and 
procure  food  as  they  can  best  obtain  it.  That  they  were 
numerous  and  voracious  in  Jezrccl,  appears  evidently  by  the 
history  of  Jezebel.  By  the  ceremonial  law,  all  the  dog  kind 
were  unclean.     (Deut.  xxiii.  18.) 


DOV 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


323 


The  Dog. 

To  compare  a  person  to  a  dog,  living  or  dead,  was  a  most 
degrading  expression.  So  David  uses  it.  "After  whom 
is  the  king  of  Israel  come  out]  after  a  dead  dog  !"  (1  Sam. 
xxiv.  14.)  The  name  of  dog  is  sometimes  applied  to  one 
who  has  lost  all  modesty,  and  prostitutes  himself  to  vile 
actions,  and  also  to  greedy,  voracious,  and  sordid  persons. 


The  Dove. 


Dove.  The  dove  includes  all  the  birds  of  the  pigeon  kind. 
There  are  several  varieties,  as  the  common  pigeon,  the  ring 
dove,  turtle  dove,  wood  pigeon,  &c.     All  doves  were,  by  the 


S24  SCRIPTURE   NATURAL    HISTOR-?.  EAC? 

law,  legally  clean,  and  pigeons  and  turtle  doves  were  the 
appointed  offerings  of  the  poor.   (liCV.  i.  14;  xiv.  6 — 8.) 

As  it  was  difficult  for  all  those  who  came  from  a  distance 
to  bring  doves  with  them,  the  priests  permitted  the  sale  of 
these  birds  in  the  courts  of  the  temple.  Our  Lord,  one  day, 
entered  the  temple,  and  with  a  scourge  of  rods,  drove  out 
those  who  traded  in  doves. 

The  dove  is  used  as  a  symbol  of  simplicity  and  innocence, 
(Matt.  iii.  16;  x.  IG.  Hos.  vii.  11.)  Noah  sent  the  dove 
out  of  the  ark  to  discover  whether  the  waters  were  abated, 
and  she  returned  bearing  an  olive  branch  in  her  mouth. 
(Gen.  viii.  8.  10.) 

Dragox.  This  word  frequently  occurs  in  the  English  Bi-' 
ble,  but  there  is  much  difficulty  in  ascertaining  the  precise 
animal  referred  to,  as  the  same  original  word  is  elsewhere 
rendered  serpents,  sea-movsiers,  or  icka/es  The  animal  now 
called  a  dragon,  by  naturalists,  is  a  harmless  sort  of  lizard  ;" 
but  it  is  evident  that  this  cannot  be  the  animal  intended  in 
the  Scriptures,  as  it  is  generally  referred  to  as  possessing  great 
strength  and  venom.  It  is  most  probable  that  the  large  ser- 
pent called  the  boa  constrictor,  which  is  the.  largest  of  the 
serpent  tribe,  and  which,  it  is  affirmed,  is  sometimes  found  ir> 
the  hot  countries  of  the  East,  fifty  feet  in  length,  is  that  which 
is  intended  by  the  sacred  writers.  The  dragon  is  mentioned 
as  an  emblem  of  desolation,  and  to  foretell  that  a  city  should 
become  the  habitation  of  dragons,  was  equivalent  to  devoting 
it  to  utter  destruction.  (Isa.  xiii.  22  ;  xxxiv.  13.  Jer.  ix.  11.) 
Satan  is  called  a  dragon ;  because  of  his  power,  practice,  and 
hiirtfulness.  (Rev.  xx.  2.)  And  the  heathen  empire  of  Rome 
is  likened  to  a  great  red  dragon,  because  it,  in  a  cruel  manner, 
wasted  the  nations,  and  persecuted  the  clmrch. 

Dromedary.  The  Arabian  camel  or  dromedary,  is  that 
Variety  which  has  only  one  hump  on  its  back,  whereas  the 
Bactrian  camel  has  two  humps.  The  dromedary  is  noted  for 
its  swiftness.     See  Camel. 

Eagle.  There  are  several  varieties  of  eagles,  as  the 
golden  eagle,  the  osprey,  or  sea  eagle,  the  bald  eagle,  and 
some  others. 

Of  all  the  varieties,  the  golden  eagle  is  the  largest,  and 
when  full  grown,  measures  eight  feet  and  a  half  from  the  tip 


ELE  scripture  natural  history.  325 

of  one  \ving  to  the  tip  of  the  other.  Its  bill  is  three  inches 
long,  of  a  deep  blue  colour,  and  the  eye  of  a  brilliant  hazel 
colour.  The  sight  and  sense  of  smelling  are  very  acute.  The 
head  and  neck  are  covered  with  sharp  pointed  feathers,  of  a 
deep  brown  colour;  but  those  on  the  crown  of  the  head,  in 
very  old  birds,  turn  gray.  The  whole  body,  above  as  well 
as  beneath,  is  of  a  dark  brown,  and  the  feathers  of  the  back 
are  finely  clouded  with  a  deeper  shade  of  the  same. 

Of  all  birds,  the  eagle  flies  the  highest.  When  M.  Ray-* 
mond  ascended  IMount  Perdu,  in  the  Pyrenees,  nearly  three 
miles  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  he  saw  an  eagle,  far  above 
him,  flying  rapidly  against  a  strong  gale.  Of  all  birds,  also, 
the  eagle  has  the  quickest  eye ;  but  his  sense  of  smelling  is 
far  inferior  to  that  of  the  vulture.  Though  his  wing  is  very 
powerful,  yet,  as  he  has  but  little  suppleness  in  the  joints  of 
his  legs,  he  finds  it  difficult  to  rise  from  the  ground,  when 
down ;  however,  if  not  instantly  pursued,  he  finds  no  diffi- 
culty in  carrying  off  geese,  hares,  lambs,  and  kids. 

An  instance  is  recorded,  in  Scotland,  of  two  children  being 
carried  off  by  eagles,  but  fortunately,  they  received  no  hurt 
by  the  way,  and  being  instantly  pursued,  the  children  were 
restored,  unhurt,  out  of  the  nests,  to  their  affrighted  parents. 

The  eagle  is  said  to  live  to  a  great  age,  and,  like  other  birds, 
sheds  his  feathers  in  the  beginning  of  spring.  After  this,  he 
appears  with  fresh  strength  and  vigour,  and  his  old  age  as- 
sumes the  appearance  of  youth.  To  this  David  alludes  when 
he  says,  "  so  that  thy  youth  is  renowned  like  the  eagle's." 
(Ps.  ciii.  5.  Also,  Isa.  xl.  31.)  The  eagle  is  usually  referred 
to  as  an  emblem  of  swiftness,  cruelty  and  oppression. 

Elephant.  In  the  book  of  I\Iaccabees,  we  have  an  account 
of  the  manner  in  which  these  gigantic  creatures  were  employed 
in  the  field  of  battle,  and  also  of  the  method  adopted  for  the 
purpose  of  exciting  them  to  a  furious  contest  with  the  enemy. 
But  though  the  animal  itself  is  nowhere  else  expressl)'-  men- 
tioned, yet  it  must  have  been  well  knowm  to  the  Hebrews, 
because  ivory ^  which  is  procured  from  the  tusks  of  the  animal, 
is  mentioned,  (1  Kings  x.  22,  and  2  Chron.  ix.  21,)  and  it 
abounded  in  the  countries  bordering  on  Judea. 

The  elephant  has  been  considered,  by  naturalists,  the  noblest 

quadruped  in  nature,  and  not  less  remarkable  for  its  size,  than 

for  its  docility  and  understanding.     It  is  exceedingly  difficult 

to  convey  a  correct  idea  of  this  animal,  by  a  description.    In 

2  C 


326 


SCRIPTURE   NATURAL    HISTORY. 


ELE 


Tiger  attacking  the  Elephant  and  Hunters. 

general,  it  may  be  said,  that  the  elephant  is  seen  from  seven 
to  fifteen  feet  high  ;  that  the  forehead  is  high  and  rising ;  the 
ears  very  large  and  pendent;  the  eyes  extremely  small ;  the 
trunk  three  or  lour  feet  long;  the  body  round  and  full;  the 
back  rising  in  an  arch,  and  the  whole  animal  rather  short  in 
proportion  to  its  height.  The  feet  are  round  at  tlie  bottom ; 
on  each  foot  there  are  five  flat,  horny  risings,  which  seem  to 
be  the  extremities  of  the  toes;  but  they  do  not  appear  out- 
wardly. The  hide  is  without  hair,  but  at  the  extremity  of 
the  tail  there  is  a  tuft  of  hair  a  foot  and  a  half  long. 

Of  all  quadrupeds,  the  elephant  is  the  strongest,  as  well  as 
the  largest ;  and  yet,  in  a  state  of  nature,  it  is  neither  fierce 
nor  formidable.  Mild,  peaceful,  and  brave,  it  never  abuses 
its  power  or  its  strength;  and  only  uses  its  force  for  the  pro- 
tection of  itself  or  its  community.  When  offended,  however, 
it  goes  forward  directly  against  him  who  has  offered  the 
insult;  strikes  him  with  its  tusks,  seizes  him  with  its  trunk, 
flings  him  into  the  air,  and  then  tramples  him  to  pieces  with 
its  feet. 

In  its  natural  state,  it  delights  to  live  along  the  sides  of 
rivers,  and  to  refresh  itself  in  the  most  shady  forests  and 
watery  places.  It  often  fills  its  trunk  with  water,  and  spurts 
it  out  again,  like  a  fountain. 


ELE  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  327 

Their  food  is  exclusively  of  the  vegetable  kind.  When 
one  of  them  has  discovered  a  good  spot  of  pasture,  it  calls 
the  rest,  and  they  continue  feeding  till  they  have  trod  down 
or  devoured  whatever  came  in  their  way;  when  they  retire 
in  an  orderly  and  regular  manner. 

With  a  very  awkward  appearance,  the  elephant  possesses 
all  the  senses  in  great  perfect! onv  The  eyes,  though  small, 
when  compared  with  the  size  of  the  head,  are  seen  to  exhibit 
a  great  variety  of  expression,  and  to  discover  the  various  sen- 
sations with  which  it  is  moved.  It  is  also  remarkable  for  the 
excellence  of  its  hearing.  Its  ears  are  extremely  large,  and 
usually  pendent;  but  it  can  easil}^  raise  and  move  them.  It 
appears  to  be  delighted  with  music,  and  very  readily  learns 
to  beat  time,  and  move  in  measure  with  the  sound  of  the  drum 
and  trumpet.  Its  sense  of  smelling  is  also  exquisite,  and  in 
its  sense  of  touch  it  excels  all  others  of  the  brute  creation, 
and  perhaps  even  man  himself.  The  sense  of  touch  lies  in 
the  trunk,  which  is  an  instrument  peculiar  to  this  animal; 
and  is,  properly  speaking,  only  a  snout  lengthened  to  a  great 
extent,  and  ending  in  tvv^o  openings  or  nostrils,  like  those  of  a 
hog.  At  the  very  point  of  the  trunk  there  is  an  extension  of 
the  skin,  about  five  inches  long,  in  the  form  of  a  finger;  and 
which,  in  fact,  answers  all  the  purposes  of  one ;  and  with  it 
the  animal  can  pick  up  a  pin  from  the  ground  ;  untie  knots 
of  a  rope;  unlock  a  door;  uncork  a  bottle,  and  even  w^ite 
with  a  pen. 

In  many  respects,  however,  the  elephant  is  unwieldy  and 
helpless.  The  neck  is  so  short,  that  it  can  scarcely  turn  the 
head.  The  legs  are  exceedingly  stiff  and  inflexible;  and  as 
it  must  v.'heel  round  in  order  to  discover  an  enemy  from  be- 
hind, the  hunters  who  attack  it  from  the  rear  have  generally 
time  to  make  their  escape.  The  tusks  are  often  enormous, 
being  sometimes  eight  or  ten  feet  in  length,  and  only  servicea- 
ble as  weapons  of  defence.  It  is  from  the  tusks  that  ivory  is 
obtained.  The  tusks  grow  from  the  upper  jaw,  and  are  never 
shed. 

The  elephant,  from  time  immemorial,  has  been  employed 
by  man  in  labour  or  war,  or  to  increase  the  grandeur  and 
ostentation  of  the  eastern  princes.  It  is  a  native  of  Asia  and 
Africa,  but  is  not  found  either  in  Europe  or  America.  When 
once  tamed,  it  becomes  the  most  gentle  and  docile  of  all 
animals.  It  suffers  itself  to  be  arrayed  in  harness,  and  seems 
to  take  pleasure  with  the  finery  of  its  trappings. 


328  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  FOX 

In  the  East  Indies  the  services  of  the  elephant  appear  to 
be  universal ;  and  it  is  as  essential  to  an  Indian  sportsman, 
as  a  good  horse  is  to  an  English  fox-hunter.  A  favourite 
sport  is  hunting  the  tiger,  mounted  on  an  elephant;  an  occu- 
pation, however,  which  is  far  from  being  unattended  with 
danger. 

Ferret.  A  small  four-footed  animal  of  tne  weasel  kind, 
and  in  size  betwen  a  pole-cat  and  a  weasel.  It  was  original- 
ly a  native  of  Africa,  but  is  now  common  in  many  other 
countries.  Its  upper  teeth  are  straight,  distinct,  and  short, 
and  the  lower,  obtuse  and  clustered.  It  is  used  for  taking 
rabbits,  which  it  follows  into  their  burrows  in  the  ground. 
Under  the  law  it  was  an  unclean  animal.  (Lev.  xi.  30.) 

Flea.  A  well  known  insect,  troublesome  to  a  variety  of 
animals,  and  of  which,  one  kind  is  much  given  to  haunt 
beds  that  are  occupied  in  the  summer  season.  David  likens 
himself  to  one,  importing  that  it  would  cost  Saul  much 
trouble  to  take  him,  and  he  would  obtain  little  profit  by  it. 
(1  Sam.  xxiv.  14.) 

Fly.  a  class  of  insects,  some  of  which  have  two,  and 
some  four  wings ;  some  have  teeth  and  others  not.  Flies 
chiefly  abound  in  moist  and  warm  countries,  and  were  one 
of  the  plagues  of  Egypt.  (Ex.  viii,  21.) 

Fox.  An  animal  of  the  dog  kind. 
Chiefly  distinguished  by  its  lono-  and 
straight  tail.  It  is  a  native  of  most 
countries,  and  is  remarkable  for  its 
cunning,  its  windino-  motions,  and 
rank  smell.  It  cannot  be  tamed  so 
as  to  become  harmless,  and  is  more 
fond  of  feeding  on  poultry,  and  other 
domestic  animals,  than  on  the  wihl.  '^"•'^  l'"-'^- 

Foxes  are  very  numerous  in  Palestine.  The  foxes  caught 
by  Samson  are,  by  some,  thought  to  have  been  the  jackal, 
which  is  still  sometimes  called  the  eastern  fox.  Foxes  are 
referred  to  in  the  Scriptures,  as  emblems  of  craft,  mischief, 
and  cruelty.  (Judg.  xv.  4.     Luke  xii.  32.) 


•Ki 


../•v,^  _^  ^- 


^4^^^fe?3^?^:^ 


GOA  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY 


The  Frog. 

Frog.  This  is  a  well  known  amphibious  animal,  which 
lives  partly  in  the  water,  and  partly  on  the  land.  It  has  a 
short  body,  and  four  legs,  the  hind  ones  very  long-,  for  leap- 
ing with.  They  delight  in  pools  of  stagnant  water,  and  are 
much  given  to  croaking.  Sometimes,  during  wet  weather, 
they  wander  a  considerable  distance  from  their  usual  place 
of  abode.  When  they  were  sent  as  a  plague  to  the  Egyp- 
tians, they  appeared  in  such  numbers  as  to  cover  the  whole 
land;  and  after  they  were  destroyed,  were  gathered  together 
in  heaps,  and  the  whole  country  was  affected  by  the  putrefy- 
inor  smell.  (Ex.  viii.  5.)  Frogs  were  unclean  animals.  (Lev. 
xi.  9.) 

Gnat.  A  very  small,  troublesome  insect,  which  often 
flutters  about  lighted  candles  till  it  burns  itself.  Those  who 
are  very  zealous  about  trifles,  while  they  indulge  themselves 
in  things  evidently  and  heinously  sinful,  are  said  to  strain  at 
a  gnat  and  swallow  a  camel.  (Matt,  xxiii.  24.) 

Goat.  The  goat  is  an  animal  about  the  size  of  the  sheep, 
which  it -greatly  resembles  in  its  external  structure,  and  in  its 
general  habits.  They  have  hollow  horns,  which  stand  erect, 
and  lean  a  little  backwards,  and  which  they  do  not  shed,  which, 
serve  to  distinguish  them  from  animals  of  the  deer  kind. 
They  have  not  wool,  like  the  sheep,  but  long,  shaggy  hair. 
The  beard  grows  very  long.  The  species  of  the  wild  goat 
are  very  numerous;  they  have  generally  larger  horns  than 
tame  ones,  and  are  remarkable  for  the  facility  with  which 
they  are  able  to  climb  precipices  ;  they  can  run  on  the  sides 
of  rocks,  and  leap  from  one  to  another. 

Under  the  law,  goats  were  classed  amongst  the  clean  ani-^ 
mals,  and  were  used  for  offerings,  and  especially  for  sin-of-^ 
2  C  2 


330 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY. 


GRA 


The  Goat. 

ferings.  (Num.  vi.  29.)  The  Greeks,  who  were  likewise 
called  Egeans,  that  is,  s^oaiish  people,  are  liken'^d  to  a  he-goat 
with  one  horn,  that,  without  touching  the  earth,  ran  against, 
and  trode  down  a  pushing  ram.  Under  Alexander,  they, 
wuth  incredible  speed,  marched  into  Asia  and  overthrew  the 
Persian  empire.  (Dan.  viii.  5.)  Devils  and  wicked  men  are 
likened  to  goats;  how  vile,  hurtful,  and  disposed  to  climb 
in  pride  and  self-conceit.  (Lev.  xvii.  3.     INIatt.  xxv.  33.) 


The  Grasshopper. 
Grasshopper.  An  insect  of  the  Locust  kind,  which  it 
considerably  resembles,  but  smaller.  'ITiey  are  often  abun- 
dant in  meadows,  and  sometimes  multitudes  destroy  the  fruits 
of  the  earth.  (Amos  vi.  L)  Some  3'ears  ago,  prodigious 
swarms  of  them  destroyed,  for  several  years  in  succession, 
the  harvests  in  Languedoc,  in  France.  Flocks  of  them 
covered  the  earth  four  or  five  inches  deep.     Grasshoppers, 


HAR 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY. 


331 


under  the  law,  were  clean.  (Lev.  xi.  22.)  The  grasshop- 
per is  said  to  be  a  burden  to  the  aged  man.  (Eccl.  xii.  5.) 
That  is,  the  slightest  thing,  annoys,  troubles,  and  vexes  him. 
They  are  often  referred  to  as  representing  a  great  army,  or 
multitude.  (Judg.  vi.  5.  Jer.  xlvi.  32.) 

Greyhound.  A  species  of  dog  remarkable  for  beauty  and 
lightness  of  motion.  In  Prov.  xxx.  31,  four  animals  are 
mentioned  as  comely  in  going,  and  among  them,  according 
to  our  translation,  one  of  those  is  the  greyhound  ;  but  there 
is  a  great  variety  of  opinion  amongst  critics,  with  respect  to 
the  animal  intended. 


The  Hare. 

Hare.  The  hare  is  a  well  knovv'n  animal,  with  a  short  tail, 
black  eyes,  double  fore  teeth,  single  under  teeth,  and  no  tusks. 
It  has  long  ears,  whereby  it  hears  exceedingly  well.  It  sleeps 
much,  but  always  with  its  eyes  open.  Its  feet  are  formed  for 
swift  running,  especially  up  hill,  as  its  hind  legs  are  much 
longer  than  the  fore  ones.  It  is  a  very  timorous  animal,  and 
multiplies  exceedingly  fast.  It  was  unclean  under  the  law, 
because,  though  it  chewed  the  cud,  it  did  not  divide  the  hoof. 
(Lev.  xi.  6.     Deut.  xiv.  7.) 

Hares  live  about  seven  or  eight  years,  and  in  a  natural 
state,  pass  their  lives  in  solitude  and  silence,  and  are  never 
known  to  exert  their  voice  unless  they  are  forcibly  laid  hold 
of,  tormented,  or  wounded. 

Hart.  The  hart,  which  is  the  stag  or  male  deer,  is  one 
of  those  innocent  and  peaceable  animals,  that  seem  made  to 
embellish  the  forests  and  animate  the  solitudes  of  nature. 
The  female  is  called  the  hind.     See  Deer. 


332  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY.  HER 

Hawk.  The  hawk  is  a  bird  of  prey, 
of  which  there  are  many  species  ;  as 
the  falcon,  goshawk,  sparrowhawk. 
This  bird  has  a  short,  strong,  curved 
bill,  notched  at  the  point,  eyes  bright 
and  piercing,  thighs  covered  with  long 
feathers,  and  crooked,  strong  claws.; 
The  colour  is  different,  in  the  different! 
species,  and  at  different  ages.  The 
usual  colour  is  brownish,  and  more  or  ti    H     l 

less  striped  with  black  and  white.     It 

lives  upon  small  quadrupeds,  and  birds,  or  fish,  which  its 
rapid  flight,  keen  vision,  great  fierceness  and  courage,  enables 
it  to  pursue  with  success.  It  builds  its  nest  in  lonely  situa- 
tions, either  in  the  crevices  of  rocks,  or  in  hollow  trees. 

Amongst  the  Egyptians  and  some  other  ancient  nations, 
the  hawk  was  held  in  high  veneration,  and  was  even  an 
object  of  religious  worship. 

Amongst  civilized  nations,  the  art  of  falconry,  in  the  mid- 
dle ages,  was  held  in  great  estimation,  and  a  person  of  rank 
hardly  ever  went  abroad  without  his  hawk  on  his  hand.. 

In  the  Bible,  all  the  different  species  are  thought  to  be 
included  under  the  name  of  hawk,  and  it,  as  well  as  all  the 
other  birds  of  prey,  was  unclean  by  the  Jewish  law.  (Lev. 
vi.  16.  Deut.  xiv.  15.) 

Heifer.  A  young  cow,  so  called  until  three  years  old. 
Under  the  law,  a  red  heifer  was  directed  to  be  offered  as  a 
kind  of  sin-offerino-,  to  purify  from  certain  legal  defilements. 
See  Bull, 

Hen.  The  female  of  the  poultry  kind,  remarkable  for  the 
strong  affection  and  tender  care  which  she  displays  for  her 
young.  To  these  qualities  in  the  character  of  the  domestic 
hen,  our  Lord  alludes  in  his  pathetic  address  to  the  once 
"holy  city."  (Matt,  xxiii.  37,  38.)     See  Cock, 

Heron.  Of  the  heron  there  are  a  great  many  species,  all 
differing  in  size,  plumage,  and  figure,  with  talents  adapted  to 
their  place  of  residence  and  peculiar  pursuits,  tliough  they  all 
possess  the  same  general  character  of  cowardice,  rapacity, 
indolence,  and  insatiable  hunger;  and  though  in  the  midst  of 
the  greatest  plenty,  and  constantly  devouring,  are  ever  found 


HOR  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  333 

lean  and  almost  destitute  of  flesh.  Though  scarcely  weig-hing 
three  pounds,  it  measures  five  feet  from  tip  to  tip  of  its  wings. 
Its  bill  is  five  inches  long,  and  sharp  at  the  point.  The  mid- 
dle claw  of  each  foot  is  notched,  to  assist  in  holding  its  prey. 
Its  nest,  which  consists  of  sticks  laid  across,  and  lined  with 
moss,  grass,  or  some  other  soft  substance,  is  generally  built 
on  a  lofty  tree,  near  the  water. 

The  heron  lives  on  eels,  fish,  lizards,  and  such  like  articles 
of  food,  of  which,  especially  in  stormy  weather,  it  finds  it 
difficult  to  obtain  a  sufficient  supply.  By  the  Jewish  law, 
the  heron  was  placed  among  the  unclean  birds.  (Lev.  xi.  19. 
Deut.  xiv.  18.) 

Hind.  The  hind  or  female  stag  is  a  beautiful  creature 
and  of  an  elegant  shape,  though  she  is  more  feeble  than  the 
hart  and  is  destitute  of  horns.  She  is  frequently  referred  to 
in  the  Scriptures.     See  Hart, 

Hornet.  An  insect  of  the  wasp  kind,  and  considerably 
larger  than  the  bee.  The  hornet  is  very  troublesome  and 
mischievous,  and  the  sting  is  attended  with  much  pain  and 
inflammation.  Great  swarms  of  these  plagued  the  Canaan- 
ites,  in  the  days  of  Joshua.  (Deut,  vii.  20.  Josh.xxiv.  12.) 
Elian  tells  us  that  the  Phasaelites,  who  dwelt  about  the 
mountains  of  Solyma,  Avere  driven  out  of  their  native  coun- 
try by  wasps.  As  these  Phasaelites  were  Phoenicians,  or 
Canaanites,  it  is  probable  this  event  is  the  same  as  took 
place  in  the  days  of  Joshua. 

Horse.  This  animal  is  one  of  the  noblest  of  the  brute 
creation,  and  noted  for  his  gracefulness,  swiftness,  docility, 
strength,  and  fitn-^ss  for  burden,  draught,  or  war.  (Job  xxxix. 
19 — 25.)  Among  the  people  of  the  East,  in  ancient  times, 
horses  were  reckoned  a  grand  present,  (Eccl.  x.  7,)  and  some 
will  now  scarcely  allow  Europeans  to  ride  on  them  in  their 
territories,  except  on  their  becoming  proselytes  to  the  Maho- 
metan faith.  God  prohibited  the  Hebrews  from  multiplying 
horses.  He  ordered  Joshua  to  hough,  hamstring,  or  cut 
the  sinews  of  all  the  horses  taken  from  the  Canaanites,  and 
to  burn  their  chariots  with  fire,  which  direction  w^as  designed, 
no  doubt,  to  prevent  their  correspondence  with  foreigners, 
or  trusting,  in  war,  to  their  chariots  or  horsemen.  (Deut. 
xvii.  16,  Josh.  xi.  6.)     In  this  manner  David   served  the 


334 


SCRIPTURE   NATURAL    HISTORY. 


HOR 


The  Horse. 

horses  of  Hadadezer,  king  of  Syria.  (2  Sam.  viii.  4,  5.)  So- 
lomon married  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh,  and  procured  a  fine 
breed  of  horses  from  Egypt.  He,  first  of  the  Hebrews,  con- 
trary to  the  divine  command,  began  to  multiply  horses,  and 
had  four  thousand  stables,  forty  thousand  stalls,  and  twelve 
thousand  horsemen.     (1  Kings  iv.  26.  2  Chron.  ix.  25.) 

As  the  Eastern  heathen,  who  worshipped  the  sun,  imagined 
that  he  rode  along  the  sky  in  a  chariot,  drawn  by  fleet  horses, 
to  communicate  his  light  and  warmth  to  mankind,  they  con- 
secrated to  him  the  finest  horses  and  chariots,  and  in  these, 
they  either  rode  to  the  eastern  gate  of  the  city,  when  the  sun 
rose,  or  held  them  so  sacred  that  none  might  ride  on  them. 
.Tosiah  removed  from  the  temple  the  horses,  or  images  of 
horses,  which  his  father  or  grandfather  had  consecrated  to 
the  sun.     (2  Kings  xxiii.  11.) 

In  the  Scriptures,  white  horses  denote  the  gospel ;  red 
horses  represent  cruel  and  bloody  wars  ;  pale  horses  denote 
famine;  black  horses  may  represent  fearful  judgments  and 
death;  and  grizzled,  speckled,  or  bay  horses,  mingled  scenes 
of  mercy  and  judgment.  (Rev.  vi.  2,  3  ;  xix.  11 — 14.  Zech. 
vi.  2,  3.) 


Horse  Leech.  The  leech  is  a  sort  of  worm  which  lives 
in  the  water,  and  they  have  the  power  of  drawing  blood  from 
any  animal  to  which  they  attach  themselves. 

This  animal  is  only  mentioned  in  one  place  in  the  Bible, 
(Prov.  XXX.  15,)  where,  on  account  of  its  thirst  for  blood,  it 
is  made  the  emblem  of  avarice  and  cruelty. 


LEO  SCRIPTURE   NATURAL   HISTORY.  335 

"  The  horse  leech  hath  two  daughters  crying,  gire,  give," 
by  which  are  probably  meant  the  two  evil  dispositions  of 
avarice  and  cruelty,  as  mentioned  above. 

Kid.  The  young  of  the  goat.  The  Israelites  were  for- 
bidden to  boil  the  flesh  of  the  kid  in  the  milk  of  its  mother. 
(Ex.  xxxiii.  19.)     See  Goat. 

KiNE.  This  word  was  formerly  used  for  the  plural  of  cow, 
and  is  found  in  several  places  in  the  Bible.     See  Bull, 

Lapwing.  Calmet  thinks  by  the 
lapwing,  (Deut.xiv.  18.  Lev.xi.l9,) 
is  intended  the  bird  now  known  by 
the  name  of  the  hoopoe,  which  is 
about  the  size  of  a  thrush.  Its  beak 
is  long,  black,  thin,  and  a  little  hook- 
ed. It  has  a  tuft  of  feathers  on  its 
head,  which  it  raises  and  lowers  at 
pleasure.  Its  legs  are  gray  and  short, 
its  neck  and  stomach  of  a  reddish 
colour,  and  its  wings  and  tail  black,  ^®     oopoe. 

with  white  streaks.  Its  form  is  beautiful,  but  its  voice  is 
hoarse  and  unmusical.  It  generally  builds  its  nest  in  old 
ruins,  and  is  mentioned  among  the  unclean  birds. 


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The  Leopard. 

Leopard.  This  formidable  and  sanguinary  species  of  the 
cat  tribe,  is  found  nearly  throughout  the  whole  of  Africa,  and 
in  Eastern  and  Southern  Asia.  He  usually  measures  about 
three  feet  in  length,  exclusive  of  the  tail,  but  sometimes 
reaches  four  feet.    In  rapacity,  agility,  and  precision  of  mo- 


336 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY, 


LEO 


tion,  he  is  unrivalled  by  any  other  animal,  even  of  the  cat 
species.  His  prey,  on  which  he  darts  from  his  hiding  places, 
and  even  pursues  up  trees,  consists  of  antelopes,  monkeys, 
and  the  smaller  quadrupeds.  He  is  well  distincruished  from 
all  other  animals  of  his  race  by  the  vividness  of  his  colouring", 
and  the  beauty  of  his  markings.  These  consist  of  numerous 
rows  of  rose-like  spots,  passing  alon^  his  sides.  His  tail  is 
equal  in  length  to  the  body,  exclusive  of  the  head,  and  is 
marked  by  a  continuation  of  the  spots  on  its  sides. 

In  captivity,  the  leopard  is  sometimes  brought  to  a  consi- 
derable degree  of  tameness,  but  it  is  not  very  safe  to  trust  him, 
as  the  innate  treachery  of  his  race  is  now  and  then  unexpect- 
edly displayed. 


Hunting  with  Leopards. 

In  Persia,  and  some  other  countries  in  Asia,  there  is  a  kind 
of  leopard  called  the  chetah,  which  is  used  in  hunting  by  the 
higher  classes.  He  does  not,  however,  follow  the  chase  like 
the  dog,  but  steals  on  his  prey  after  the  manner  of  the  cat, 
and  other  animals  of  the  tribe  to  which  he  belongs. 

The  leopard  is  frequently  referred  to  in  the  vScriptures, 
sometimes  with  reference  to  iiis  patience  in  waiting  for  his 
prey :  sometimes  with  reference  to  his  swiftness,  and  at  others, 
in  reference  to  his  fierceness  and  cruelty.  (Isa.  xi.  6.  Hab. 
i.  8.    Dan.  viii.  6.) 


LEV  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  337 


The  Crocodile. 

Leviathan.  This  word,  in  the  original,  occurs  four  times 
in  the  Old  Testament,  and  is  variously  translated  whale,  dra- 
gon, serpent,  and  sea  monster,  and  perhaps  not  improperly,  as 
all  these  may  be  intended,  though  one  description  of  animal 
only  appears  to  be  marked  out  in  the  book  of  Job,  where  the 
word,  in  our  Bibles  is  not  translated.   (Job  xli.) 

It  was  formerly  supposed  by  commentators,  that  the  whafe 
was  the  animal  described  under  the  name  of  leviathan,  but 
as  the  natural  history  of  that  animal  became  better  known,  it 
was  apparent  that  the  description  could  not,  with  any  pro- 
priety, be  applied  to  the  whale,  while  Bochart  and  others 
shovv'ed  that  the  description  did  apply,  with  great  exactness, 
to  the  crocodile ;  and  the  identity  of  the  leviathan  and  the 
crocodile  is  now  generally  admitted. 

The  crocodile  is  the  largest  animal  of  the  lizard  kind,  and 
grows  to  a  great  length  ;  being  sometimes  found  thirty  feet 
long,  from  the  tip  of  the  snout  to  the  end  of  the  tail ;  its  most 
usual  length,  however,  is  eighteen  feet.  Like  other  animals 
of  the  lizard  kind,  it  has  four  legs,  and  feet  bearing  some 
resemblance  to  those  of  man.  It  is  covered  with  a  toughj 
scaly  skin,  which  is  very  difficult  to  penetrate.  The  jaws 
seem  to  shut  upon  each  other;  but  contrary  to  the  general 
opinion,  the  lower  jaw  alone  is  moveable,  the  upper  one  being 
immoveably  fixed  to  the  scull.  The  distance  to  which  the 
jaws  open,  is  about  a  foot  and  a  half,  so  that  it  could  easily 
take  in  the  body  of  a  man. 

They  are  seen,  in  some  places,  lying  for  whole  hours  and 
even  days,  stretched  in  the  sun,  and  motionless,  so  that  one 
2D 


338  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY.  LIO 

not  accustomed  to  them,  might  take  them  for  trunks  of  trees, 
covered  with  rough  and  dry  bark  ;  but  the  mistake  would  soon 
be  fatal,  if  not  prevented;  for  the  torpid  animal,  at  the  near 
approach  of  any  living  thing,  darts  upon  it,  and  instantly 
drags  it  into  the  water,  and  dives  to  the  bottom. 

The  strength  of  the  crocodile  is  very  great,  and  though  not 
so  powerful  on  land  as  in  the  water,  yet  ii  is  very  terrible,  even 
there.  Except  pressed  by  hunger,  or  with  a  view  of  depo- 
siting its  eggs,  it  seldom  leaves  the  water.  Its  usual  method 
is  to  float  upon  the  surface,  and  seize  upon  whatever  comes 
within  its  reach  ;  but  when  this  method  fails,  it  then  goes 
closer  to  the  bank.  Disappointed  of  its  fishy  prey,  it  there 
waits  in  patient  expectation  of  some  land  animal,  that  may 
come  to  drink,  the  dog,  the  bull,  the  tiger,  or  man  himself. 
Striking  the  animal  suddenly,  with  its  tail,  in  a  direction 
towards  its  mouth,  it  is  instantly  caught  by  its  ponderous 
jaws,  and,  dragging  it  into  the  water,'  the  victim,  if  not 
already  killed,  is  soon  drowned. 

Desperate  and  bloody  combats  frequently  occur  between 
the  crocodile  and  the  tiger.  All  creatures  of  the  cat  kind 
are  continually  tormented  with  a  parching  thirst,  which 
compels  them  to  keep  within  the  vicinity  of  rivers,  to  which 
they  often  resort  to  drink.  It  is  on  these  occasions  that  they 
are  seized  by  the  crocodile,  and  they  die  not  unrevenged. 
The  instant  the  tiger  is  seized  upon,  he  darts  his  claws,  with 
great  force,  into  the  crocodile's  eyes,  while  he  plunges  with 
his  fierce  antagonist  into  the  river.  There  they  continue  to 
struggle  for  some  time,  but  in  the  end,  the  tiger  is  generally 
drowned. 

The  crocodile  is  a  native  of  most  warm  climates,  both  in 
the  old  and  new  world.  In  the  Nile,  and  other  great  rivers 
of  Africa,  he  abounds,  as  well  as  in  the  rivers  of  Southern 
Asia,  and  the  hot  climates  of  America.  In  many  countries, 
they  are  eaten  by  the  savage  inhabitants;  but  their  flesh  has 
a  strong,  musky  odour,  and  is  far  from  being  palatable  food. 

The  king  of  Egypt  is  called  a  leviathan,  (Ps.  Ixxiv.  14,) 
and  Satan  himself  is  so  denominated  by  the  prophet  Isaiah, 
who  predicts  his  destruction  and  the  downfall  of  his  king- 
dom. (Isa.  xxvii.  1.) 

Lion.  This  is  the  largest  animal  of  the  feline,  or  cat  race. 
The  largest  lions  are  about  eight  or  nine  feet  in  length,  from 
the  snout  to  the  insertion  of  the  tail,  which  is,  of  itself,  four 


LIO 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


339 


Tlie  Lion. 

feet  long,  and  these  large  lions  are  four  or  five  feet  in  height. 
In  all  her  dimensions,  the  lioness  is  about  one-third  less  than 
the  lion. 

The  lion  is  furnished  with  a  mane,  which  becomes  longer 
in  proportion  as  he  advances  in  age.  The  lioness,  however, 
is  without  this  appendage  at  every  age,  which  causes  so  great 
a  difference  in  her  appearance,  that  at  first  view,  she  appears 
to  belong  to  a  different  species. 

The  lion,  when  hungry,  boldly  attacks  all  animals  that  come 
in  his  way ;  but  as  they  all  seek  to  avoid  him,  he  is  often 
obliged  to  hide  in  order  to  take  them  by  surprise.  For  this 
purpose,  he  crouches  in  some  thicket,  where,  in  patient  ex- 
pectation, he  waits  the  approach  of  his  prey,  until  it  comes 
within  a  proper  distance,  and  he  then  springs  after  it  with 
such  force,  that  he  often  seizes  it  with  a  single  bound.  His 
teeth  are  so  strong  that  he  easily  breaks  the  bones  of  an 
animal,  and  swallows  them  as  well  as  the  flesh.  He  bears 
hunger  for  a  long  time,  but  is  a  very  thirsty  animal,  drinking 
often,  by  lapping,  after  the  manner  of  a  dog.  He  generally 
lies  quiet  in  the  day  time,  and  goes  abroad  at  night,  in  search 
of  food,  as  his  sight,  like  all  others  of  the  cat  tribe,  is  fitted 
for  seeing  best  at  night. 

The  outward  form  of  the  lion  seems  to  speak  the  superiority 
of  his  internal  qualities,  and  his  figure  is  striking,  his  look 
bold  and  confident,  his  gait  proud  and  majestic,  and  his  roar- 
ing terrible.  His  stature  is  not  overgrown,  like  the  elephant 
Qi  rhinoceros,  nor  is  the  shape  clumsy,  like  the  hippopotamus. 


S40 


SCRIPTURE  NATURAL    HISTORY. 


LIZ 


He  is,  in  every  respect,  compact  and  well  proportioned,  and 
a  perfect  model  of  strength  joined  with  agility. 


Hunting  the  Lion. 

Hunting  the  lion,  in  the  countries  where  he  abounds,  is 
generally  undertaken  by  parties  of  armed  men,  with  dogs, 
who,  when  his  retreat  has  been  discovered,  generally  succeed 
In  destroying  him ;  but  it  may  readily  be  supposed  that  an 
attack  on  such  an  adversary,  is  not  unattended  by  danger. 

Lions  abounded  not  only  in  Lebanon,  but  also  in  the 
thickets  of  Jordan,  and  in  other  places  in  Canaan  where 
there  were  woods.  Samson  tore  a  lion  to  pieces  with  his 
hands,  (Judges  xiv,)  and  David  killed  both  a  lion  and  a 
bear.  (1  Sam.  xvii.  34.)  Daniel  was  cast  into  the  den  of 
lions,  and  was  miraculously  preserved  from  destruction. 
(Dan.  vi.  27.) 

The  lion  is  very  frequently  referred  to  in  Scripture,  and  it 
is  not  surprising  that  an  animal  possessing  such  remarkable 
qualities,  should  have  afforded  frequent  occasion  for  suita- 
ble comparison,  under  many  circumstances.  His  strength, 
courage,  and  power  to  conquer,  however,  are  the  qualities 
more  frequently  referred  to,  and  it  is  in  these  respects,  that 
our  Saviour  is  denominated  the  "  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah." 
(Rev.  V.  5.) 

Lizard.  These  are  animals  which  live  partly  on  the  land, 
and  partly  in  the  water,  or  at  least,  in  moist,  damp  places. 


LOC  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  341 

Their  body  is  oblong-, 

and     roundish,     and 

they  have  four  legs, 

and  hinder  parts  ter- 

minatino-    in  a  long: 

and  tapering  tan.  Li- 

_,,     , .      ,  zards    are    of    many 

The  Lizard.  vrr         ^  i  •    j 

dmerent  kinds ;  some 

very  small,  and  others  of  great  size,  as  the  crocodile,  which 
is  the  largest  of  the  lizard  kind,  and  though  they  all  preserve 
a  great  similarity  as  it  regards  their  shape  and  g^eneral  con- 
formation, no  class  of  animals  differ  so  widely  from  each 
other  in  size  and  colour.  Lizards  were  unclean  animals 
under  the  law.  (Lev.  xi.  30.)  All  the  varieties  of  lizards 
are  found,  in  great  numbers,  in  Egypt,  Palestine,  Arabia,  and 
in  most  other  warm  countries. 

Locust.  This  is  an  insect  of  the  grasshopper  species, 
which,  in  many  respects,  it  closely  resembles.  The  quantity 
of  grass  which  a  few  grasshopers,  that  sport  in  the  fields, 
could  destroy,  is  trifling ;  but  when  a  swarm  of  locusts,  two 
or  three  miles  long,  and  several  yards  deep,  settle  on  a  field, 
the  consequences  are  frightful. 

This  insect  is  about  three  inches  long,  and  has  two  horns, 
or  feelers,  an  inch  in  length.  The  head  and  horns  are  of  a 
brownish  colour,  and  it  is  blue  about  the  mouth,  as  also  on  the 
inside  of  the  larger  legs.  The  shield  that  covers  the  back  is 
greenish,  and  the  upper  side  of  the  body  brown,  spotted  with 
black,  and  the  under  side  purple.  The  upper  Vv'ings  are  brown, 
with  small  dusky  spots,  with  one  larger  at  the  tips,  and  un- 
der the  wings  they  are  more  transparent,  and  of  a  light  brown, 
tinctured  with  green;  but  there  is  a  dark  cloud  of  spots  near 
the  tips.  There  is  no  animal  in-creation  which  m^ultiplies  so 
fast  as  these,  if  the  sun  be  warm,  and  the  soil  in  which  their 
eggs  are  deposited,  be  dry. 

The  Scriptures  having  been  vmtten  in  a  country  where 
the  locust  made  a  distinguished  figure  in  the  picture  of  nature, 
have  given  us  several  striking  images  of  this  animal's  num- 
bers and  rapacity.  They  compare  an  arm}^,  where  the  num- 
bers are  almost  infinite,  to  a  swarm  of  locusts.  (Isa.  xxxiii. 
4,  5.  Nah.  iii.  15 — 17.)  They  describe  them  as  rising  out 
of  the  earth,  where  they  are  produced,  as  pursuing  a  settled 
2D  2 


342  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  MOL 

march  to  destroy  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  co-operate  with 
divine  indignation. 

When  locusts  take  the  field,  we  are  assured  they  have  a 
leader  at  their  head,  whose  llight  they  observe,  and  pay  strict 
attention  to  all  his  motions.  They  appear,  at  a  distance,  like 
a  black  cloud,  which,  as  it  approaches,  gathers  upon  the 
horizon,  and  almost  hides  the  light  of  day.  Wretched  is  the 
district  upon  which  they  settle.  They  ravage  the  meadow 
and  the  pasture  ground,  strip  the  trees  of  their  leaves,  and 
the  garden  of  its  beauty ;  the  visitation  of  a  few  minutes 
destroys  the  expectations  of  a  year,  and  a  famine  but  too 
frequently  ensues. 

According  to  the  Jewish  law,  the  locust  was  a  clean  ani- 
mal, (Lev.  xi.  22,)  and  might  be  used  for  food.  The  food 
of  John  the  Baptist  was  locusts  and  wild  hone3^  (Matt.  iii.  4.) 
They  are  still  eaten  by  most  Eastern  nations,  and  among 
them  are  considered  a  delicacy,  being  boiled  and  eaten  with 
salt,  or  dried  in  the  sun. 

These  dreadful  insects,  in  prodigious  numbers,  formed  the 
eighth  plague  of  Egypt,  and  were,  by  a  strong  wind,  driven 
away  into  the  Red  Sea.  (Ex.  x.  14 — 19.) 

Louse.  A  well  known  insect,  with  which  most  ani- 
mals are  infested,  not  excepting  man  himself,  where  proper 
attention  is  not  paid  to  personal  cleanliness.  Swarms  of  lice 
were  one  of  the  plagues  of  Egypt;  nor  could  the  magicians 
produce  any.  (Ex.  viii.  16 — 19.) 

Mole.  This  animal,  without  being  blind,  has  such  small 
eyes,  and  these  so  concealed,  that  at  first  view,  it  might  be 
supposed,  as  formerly,  that  it  was  altogether  destitute  of  the 
sense  of  vision;  but  it  is  now  ascertained  that  it  possesses 
the  power  of  seeing  in  a  degree  well  suited  to  its  habitation, 
and  the  kind  of  life  which  it  leads.  Its  skin  is  as  soft  as 
silk,  and  its  little  paws,  which  are  furnished  with  five  claws, 
are  almost  like  the  hands  of  a  human  being.  Its  strength, 
for  its  size,  is  very  great,  and  it  possesses  the  mild  habitudes 
of  repose  and  confidence.  As  these  animals  very  seldom 
come  above  ground,  they  have  few  enemies,  and,  were  it  not 
that  they  are  often  destroyed  by  an  inundation  of  the  low 
grounds,  where  they  usually  fix  their  habitations,  they  would 
soon  be  multiplied  to  a  very  injurious  extent.  It  feeds  on 
roots,  worms,  and  insects.     It  always  skins  a  worm  before 


MUL 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


343 


eating  it,  and  in  this  operation  displays  an  exquisite  degree 
of  skill. 

By  the  Jewish  law,  the  mole  was  classed  among  the  un- 
clean animals.  To  cast  idols  to  the  moles  and  the  bats,  is  to 
abandon  their  worship,  and  to  throw  them  away  with  con- 
tempt and  neglect.  (Isa.  ii.  20.) 

Moth.  An  insect  of  the  butterfly  kind,  which,  like  that 
insect,  is  produced  from  the  caterpillar,  and  difFars  chiefly  in 
its  going  abroad  by  night,  instead  of  going  abroad  by  day. 
See  Butterfly. 

Secret  curses,  or  judgments,  that  insensibly  consume,  are 
likened  to  a  moth.  (Isa.  1.9;  li.  8.)  The  wicked  man 
buildeth  his  house  as  a  moth — he  builds  it  with  anxious  care. 
(Job  xxvii.  18.)  Man's  beauty,  glor}'',  and  wealth,  waste 
like  a  moth,  are  secretly,  insensibly,  but  certainly  consumed, 
(Ps.  xxxix.  11.) 

Mouse.  This  is  a  well  known, 
four-footed  little  animal,  whose  fore- 
teeth are  sharp,  its  feet  divided,  and 
its  ears  and  tail  naked  of  hair.  Un- 
der the  Mosaic  law,  (Lev.  xi.  29,) 
they  were  declared  unclean;  but 
they  were  used  as  food  by  the  an- 
cient Romans.  In  some  parts  of 
Palestine,  they  were  so  plentiful, 
that  had  it  not  been  for  the  birds 
which  devoured  them^,  they  had  destroyed  the  whole  seed  or 
crop  of  corn;  and  it  seems  the}''  had  exceedingly  injured  the 
Philistines'  crop,  that  year  in  which  the  ark  of  God  was  a 
captive  in  the  country.  (1  Sam.  vi.  5.)  By  some,  it  is 
thought  that  the  jerboa,  or  jumping  mouse,  which  also 
abounds  in  that  country,  was  the  animal  referred  to. 

Mule.  This  is  a  mongrel  animal,  of  a  mixed  kind,  be- 
tween the  horse  and  the  ass.  The  Jewish  law  prohibited 
every  attempt  to  confound  the  species  of  animals,  and  yet  it 
is  certain  that  there  were  plenty  of  males  in  the  time  of 
David,  as  he  and  his  sons  rode  on  them,  and  they  appear  to 
have  been  held  in  great  esteem.  (2  Sam.  xiii.  29;  xviii.  9.) 
Solomon  rode  upon  one  at  his  coronation,  and  procured  a 
considerable  number  of  them.  (1  Kings  i.  33  ;  x.  25.)  The 
Persians  used  them  for  their  posts  to  ride  on.  (Esth.  viii.  10.) 


The  Mouse. 


344 


SCRIPTURi:    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


MUL 


They  are  still  much  used  in  various  countries,  where  the  ways 
are  mountainous  and  rocky.  Great  numbers  of  them  are 
kept  about  the  Alps,  on  the  north  of  Italy,  and  about  the 
Pyrenean  mountains,  between  France  and  Spain.  These 
mules  are  black,  well  limbed,  and  fifteen  or  sixteen  hands 
high.  They  are  much  strono-er,  hardier,  and  more  sure  of 
foot  than  the  horse,  and  will  live  and  work  to  double  his  age. 


bpaiiiili  r^IulutcLTS. 

For  travelling  over  wild  and  mountainous  tracts  of  coun- 
try, the  mule  is  much  better  than  the  horse,  being  much  more 
sure-footed,  which  was  doubtless  one  reason  for  the  estima- 
tion in  which  mules  were  held  in  Palestine.  Their  manner 
of  descending  the  Alps,  Andes,  and  other  mountainous  re- 
gions, is  very  extraordinary.  In  these  passages,  on  one  side 
are  steep  eminences,  and  on  the  other,  frightful  abysses;  and 
the  road  frequently  forms  steep  declivitirs  of  several  hundred 
yards  downwards.  These  can  only  be  descended  by  the 
mule,  and  the  animal  itself  seems  sensible  of  the  danger  and 
the  caution  to  be  used  in  such  descents.  "When  they  come 
to  the  edge  of  one  of  the  precipices,  they  stop  without  being 
checked  by  the  rider,  and  if  he  attempts  to  spur  them  on, 
they  continue  immovable.  They  seem  all  this  time  rumi- 
nating on  the  peril  that  lies  before  them.  They  not  only 
attentively  view  the  road,  but  tremble  and  snort  at  the  dan- 
ger.    They  then  place  their  forefeet  in  a  posture  as  if  they 


OST  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  345 

were  stoppino'  themselves,  and  put  their  hindfeet  tog-ether, 
and  a  little  forward,  as  if  they  were  about  to  lie  down.  They 
then  slide  down  with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow.  At  this 
time,  all  the  rider  has  to  do  is  to  keep  himself  fast  on  the 
saddle,  without  checking  the  reins,  for  the  least  motion  would 
disturb  the  equilibrium  of  the  mule,  in  which  case  both  he 
and  his  rider  would  be  dashed  to  pieces.  Some  mules,  after 
>livii\^  been  lono'  used  in  these  perilous  descents,  acquire  a 
/eputation  for  safety,  and  their  value  rises  in  proportion  to 
their  celebrity. 

Night  Hawk.  The  nig;ht  hawk  is  mentioned  amongst 
the  list  of  unclean  birds.  (Lev.  xi.  16  ;  Deut.  xiv.  15.)  The 
bird  usually  called  by  that  name  amongst  us,  has  no  relation 
to  the  hawk  in  its  manners  and  habits,  though  it  somewhat 
resembles  a  small  hawk  in  appearance.  Its  habits  are  those 
of  the  swallow  tribe,  except  that  it  flies  abroad  at  the  ap- 
proach of  night,  and  seldom  during  the  day.  It  is  probable 
that  a  species  of  owl  is  the  bird  referred  to  in  this  place. 

OssiFRAGE.  This  is  thought  to  be  a  bird  of  the  eagle 
kind,  so  called  from  breaking  the  bones  of  its  prey  after  it 
has  eaten  its  flesh.     See  Eagle. 

OsPRAY.  This  is  probably  the  black  eagle,  which,  although 
among  the  smallest  of  the  kind,  is  one  of  the  strongest  and 
swiftest.     It  is  mentioned  in  Lev.  xi.  13.     See  Eagle. 

Ostrich.  This  bird  has  furnished  the  sacred  writers  with. 
some  of  their  most  beautiful  imagery,  and  its  flesh  was,  even 
previous  to  the  days  of  Moses,  apparently  a  common  article 
of  food,  as  we  find  it  interdicted,  amongst  other  unclean  ani- 
mals, by  the  Jewish  legislator. 

The  ostrich  is  considered  to  be  the  largest  of  birds,  and  the 
connecting  link  between  quadrupeds  and  fovv'ls.  Its  head 
and  bill  somewhat  resem.ble  those  of  a  duck,  and  the  neck 
maybe  compared  to  that  of  a  swan,  but  that  it  is  much  longer; 
the  legs  and  thighs  resemble  those  of  a  hen,  but  are  very 
fleshy  and  large.  The  end  of  the  foot  is  cloven,  and  has  two 
very  large  toes,  which,  like  the  leg,  are  covered  with  scales. 
These  toes  are  of  unequal  sizes  ;  the  largest  of  which  is  on 
the  inside,  being  seven  inches  long,  including  the  claw.  The 
height  of  the  ostrich  is  usually  seven  feet  from  the  head  to 


346 


SCRIPTUKE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


OST 


the  ground,  but  from  the  back  it  is  only  four,  so  thut  the  head 
and  neck  are  above  three  feet  long-.  From  the  head  to  the 
end  of  the  tail,  when  the  neck  is  stretched  in  a  right  line,  it 
is  seven  feet  long.  One  of  the  wings,  with  the  feathers 
stretched  out,  is  three  feet  long.  The  plumage  is  generally 
white  and  black,  though  some  of  them  are  said  to  be  gray. 
There  are  no  feathers  on  the  sides  of  the  thighs,  or  under  the 
wings.  At  the  end  of  each  wing,  there  is  a  kind  of  spur, 
resembling  the  quill  of  a  porcupine,  about  an  inch  long;  and 
about  a  foot  lower  down,  another,  though  smaller. 


The  Ostrich. 

The  ostrich  has  not,  like  most  other  birds,  feathers  of  dif- 
ferent kinds;  they  are  all  bearded  with  detached  hairs,  or 
filaments,  without  resistance  or  reciprocal  adherence.  They 
cannot,  therefore,  be  of  any  utility  in  flying,  or  directing  the 
flight.  Besides  the  peculiar  structure  of  its  wiugs,  the 
ostrich  is  rendered  incapable  of  flight  by  its  enormous  size, 
weighing  seventy-five  or  eighty  pounds,  a  weight  which  would 
require  an  immense  power  of  wing  to  elevate  in  the  air. 

Sly  and  timorous,  in  no  common  degree,  the  ostrich  retires 
from  the  cultivated  field,  where  it  is  disturbed  by  the  Arabian 
shepherds  and  husbandmen,  into  the  deepest  recesses  of  the 
Sahara.  In  these  dreary  wastes  it  is  reduced  to  subsist  on  a 
few  tufts  of  coarse  grass,  which  here  and  there  languish  on 
their  surface,  or  a  few  other  solitary  plants,  equally  destitute 
of  nourishment,  and,  in  the  Psalmist's  phrase,  even  "withered 
before  they  are  grown  up."  To  this  dry  and  parched  food 
may  perhaps  be  added,  the  great  variety  of  land  snails,  which 


OST  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY.  347 

occasionally  cover  these  plants.  Nor  is  it  improbable  that 
its  sometimes  devours  lizards  and  snakes,  for,  in  fact,  no 
kind  of  food  appears  to  come  amiss,  how  coarse  and  indi- 
gestible soever  it  may  appear.  Still,  considering  the  vo- 
racity and  size  of  this  camel  bird,  as  it  is  called  in  the  East, 
it  is  surprising  how  it  is  able  to  obtain  a  sufficient  supply 
of  food. 

When  the  ostrich  is  provoked,  it  sometimes  makes  a  fierce, 
angry,  and  hissing  noise,  with  its  throat  inflated,  and  its 
mouth  open,  and  sometimes  it  cackles,  like  a  hen.  But  in 
the  silent  hours  of  the  night,  it  assumes  quite  a  different  tone, 
and  makes  a  very  doleful  and  hideous  noise,  which  sometimes 
resembles  the  roaring  of  a  lion,  and  sometimes  the  bull,  or 
the  ox.  It  frequently  groans,  as  if  it  were  in  the  greatest 
agonies,  to  which  the  prophet  beautifully  alludes,  "  I  will 
make  a  mourning  like  the  ostriches,"  or  owls,  as  our  version 
reads.  (Micah  i.'8.) 

The  ostrich  lays  very  large  eggs ;  some  of  them  are  above 
five  inches  in  diameter,  and  weigh  fifteen  pounds.  It  has 
been  commonly  reported  that  the  female  deposits  them  in  the 
sand,  and  then  covering  them  up,  leaves  them  to  be  hatched 
by  the  heat  of  the  climate,  and  then  permits  the  young  to 
shift  for  themselves.  Very  little  of  this,  however,  is  true ;  no 
bird  has  a  stronger  affection  for  her  young  than  the  ostrich, 
and  none  watches  her  eggs  with  greater  assiduity,  though, 
in  those  hot  climates,  there  is  less  necessity  for  continued 
incubation  during  the  day,  but  at  night  she  uniformly  returns 
to  prevent  the  eggs  from  being  chilled  by  the  evening  air. 
The  young  ones  cannot  walk  for  several  days  after  their  ex- 
clusion from  the  shell,  during  which  time,  the  old  ones  attend 
them,  and  supply  them  with  food  very  carefully. 

The  ostrich  inhabits  only  the  deserts  of  Africa  and  Asia, 
and  from  its  frequenting  the  more  solitary  and  deserted 
places,  it  is,  in  several  places  in  Scripture,  made  an  emblem 
of  solitude  and  desolation.  (Jobxxx.  29.  Isa.  xiii.  21;  xxxiv. 
13.  Jer.  i.  39.)  In  these  texts,  our  translation  reads  owls; 
but  it  is  believed  by  learned  men  generally,  that  they  should 
have  been  rendered  ostriches. 

In  the  book  of  Job  (ch.  xxxix.  13 — 18)  this  bird  is  referred 
to,  and  some  of  her  peculiarities  described.  It  has  been  said 
that  the  ostrich  is  a  very  timid  bird,  and  easily  frightened 
from  her  nest  by  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  and  the  expres- 
sion, therefore,   "She  leaveth  her  eggs  in  the  sand,  and 


348 


SCRIPTURE   NATURAL   HISTORY. 


OST 


warmeth  them  in  the  dust,  and  forgetteth  that  the  foot  may 
crush  them,  or  that  the  wild  beast  may  break  them,"  refers, 
first,  to  her  leaving  her  eggs  during  the  day,  to  the  sun's 
warmth,  voluntarily  ;  and,  in  the  second  place,  to  her  leaving 
her  nest  at  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  without  any  resistance, 
contrary  to  the  habits  of  most  other  birds. 


Hunting  the  Ostrich. 

Their  nests  are  large,  and  made  upon  the  ground,  in  exposed 
situations,  and  it  is  aihrmed  that  several  females  deposit  their 
eggs  in  the  same  nest.  In  verse  sixteenth,  there  is  an  ex- 
pression which  would  seem  to  imply  a  want  of  natural  affec- 
tion for  her  young.  "  She  is  hardened  against  her  young 
ones,  as  though  they  were  not  hers,  her  labour  is  in  vain, 
without  fear."  When  she  is  disturbed  by  danger,  or  wanders 
after  food,  leaving  her  young  ones  without  fear  or  concern 
for  them,  it  may  be  said  that  her  labour  in  rearing  them  so 
far,  is  in  vain. 

Her  great  swiftness  is  referred  to — "  What  time  she  lifteth 
up  herself  on  high,  she  scorneth  the  horse  and  his  rider."  It 
is  affirmed  that  the  ostrich  is  able  to  leave  the  fleetest  horses 
far  behind,  and  did  she  run  in  a  straight  line,  could  not  be 
taken;  but  as  she  runs  in  circles,  the  horseman,  by  taking 
the  shortest  course,  is  able,  finally,  to  overtake  her.     When 


OWL 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORV. 


349 


exhausted,  she  hides  her  head,  and  foolishly  supposes,  thatj 
by  doing  so,  she  is  hid  from  her  pursuers. 


S^^^^^^^k.  ^ 

^^  1 

y '  ^'^^^^^^^^^ 

---R^  1               1 

t^'i'^^^^^^» 

.          ^^      V 

ii^^^^^H 

K                   \j^ 

^^^^^H 

^m^j^^^     j^ 

\**  ■'V^^^^^^^^^^ 

^^^mm*^^"^**"*^^ 

^Mk 

vA      ^/^"^^^^^^^S^N  ^^'^^ 

^^^^^tes 

p^K 

^^K 

P^^ 

The  Owl. 

Owl.  All  birds  of  the  owl  kind,  have  one  common  mark 
by  which  they  are  distinguished  from  others.  Their  eyes, 
like  those  of  the  cat  tribe,  are  formed  for  seeing  better  in  the 
dusk  than  in  the  broad  glare  of  the  sunshine,  so  that  it  lies 
quiet  in  its  retreat,  of  some  old  ruin,  or  hollow  tree,  during* 
the  .day,  and  on  the  approach  of  evening,  ventures  out  in 
quest  of  food.  The  nights  when  the  moon  shines,  are  the 
times  of  their  most  successful  plunder;  for  when  it  is  wholly 
dark,  they  are  the  less  qualified  to  pursue  the  animals  on 
which  they  prey. 

Birds  of  the  owl  kind  may  be  divided  into  two  sorts ;  those 
which  have  horns,  and  those  which  have  not.  These  horns 
2  E 


1 


350  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  PAR 

are  nothing  more  than  two  or  three  feathers,  that  stand  up  on 
each  side  of  the  head,  over  the  ear,  and  give  this  animal  a 
kind  of  horned  appearance.  There  are  a  great  many  species 
of  the  owl,  but  they  differ  little,  except  in  size  and  colour, 
from  each  other,  and  in  their  habits  and  manners,  the  whole 
tribe  are  almost  exactly  alike.  The  large  horned  owl,  is 
almost  as  large  as  the  eagle,  while  some  of  the  smaller  kinds 
are  not  larger  than  a  pigeon. 

The  note,  or  hooting  of  the  owl,  which  is  usually  heard 
about  the  time  he  comes  from  his  hiding-place,  is  singularly 
prolonged  and  doleful,  and  fills  many  persons  with  a  super- 
stitious dread. 

Amongst  the  ancients,  the  owl  was  the  emblem  of  wisdom, 
and  was  consecrated  to  Minerva ;  for  which  reason,  it  was 
held  in  high  honour  by  the  Athenians,  who  represented  it  on 
their  medals.  No  such  honour,  however,  is  bestowed  on  it 
in  the  Scriptures.  In  the  Jewish  law,  it  is  found  amongst  the 
unclean  birds,  (Lev.  xi.  17;  Deut.  xiv.  15,)  and  is  used  as 
an  emblem  of  desolation.  When  Isaiah  speaks  of  Babylon 
as  reduced  to  a  wilderness,  he  says,  the  owls  shall  answer 
one  another  there.  (Isa.  xiii.  21.)  And  the  Psalmist  says, 
that  in  his  affliction  he  was  as  the  owl,  sitting  alone  in  the 
housetop.  (Ps.  cii.  6.) 

Ox.  A  general  name  for  a  well  known  domestic  animal, 
meaning,  more  strictly,  one  which  is  used  for  the  plough  or 
draught.  The  ox  is  almost  always  referred  to,  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, as  an  emblem  of  patience  and  labour.     See  Bull. 

Partridge.  This  bird  is  of  the 
poultry  kind,  and  there  are  more 
than  twenty  species  known,  though 
they  may  be  all  arranged  under  two 
divisions,  the  gray  and  the  red. 
The  red  is  the  larger,  and  often 
perches  on  trees ;  the  gray  always 
keeps  on  the  ground. 

This  bird  is  about  thirteen  inches  "^'^^  Partridge. 

in  length,  the  plumage,  brown  and  ash  colour,  beautifully 
mixed  with  black.     The  tail  is  short,  the  legs  of  a  greenish 
white,  and  the  bill  is  of  a  light  brown. 
ir   The  partridge  seems  to  be  a  bird  well  known  all  over  the 
world,  as  it  is  found,  as  well  in  the  frozen  regions  about  the 


PEA  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  351 

pole,  as  in  the  torrid  tracts,  under  the  equator.  It  even  seems 
to  adapt  itself  to  the  nature  of  the  climate  where  it  resides. 
In  Greenland,  the  partridge,  which  is  brown  in  summer,  as  the 
winter  begins  to  set  in,  like  most  other  animals  and  birds  of 
those  regions,  becomes  white,  and  continues  to  wear  the 
livery  suitable  to  the  snows  with  which  it  is  surrounded,  till 
the  return  of  spring. 

In  manners  and  habits,  the  partridge  nearly  resembles  the 
other  poultry  kind  ;  but  its  cunning  and  instinct  seem  supe- 
rior to  the  larger  birds  of  that  race. 

This  bird  is  twice  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures.  The  first 
occurs  in  the  history  of  David,  (1  Sam.  xvi.  20,)  where  he 
expostulates  with  Saul  concerning  his  unjust  and  foolish 
pursuit.  "  The  king  of  Israel  is  come  out  to  seek  a  flea,  as 
when  one  doth  hunt  a  partridge  on  the  mountains."  The 
other  passage  is,  "  As  the  partridge  sitteth  on  eggs  and 
hatcheth  them  not,  so  he  that  getteth  riches,  and  not  by  right, 
shall  leave  them  in  the  midst  of  his  days."  (Jer.  xvii.  11.) 
It  is  said  that  the  partridge,  finding  the  nest  of  some  other 
bird,  will  take  possession  of  it,  and  sit  on  the  eggs  till  the 
real  owner  of  the  nest  comes  and  drives  her  away,  and  it  is 
to  this  peculiarity  that  the  above  text  is  supposed  to  refer. 


The  Peacock. 
Peacock.  To  describe,  in  adequate  terms,  the  dazzling 
beauties  of  this  elegant  bird,  would  be  a  task  of  no  small 
difficulty.  His  head  is  adorned  with  a  tuft,  consisting  of 
twenty-four  feathers,  painted  with  the  most  exquisite  green, 
mixed  with  gold.    The  head,  throat,  neck,  and  breast,  are  of 


352  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  PEL 

a  deep  blue,  glossed  with  green  and  gold ;  but  the  distin- 
guishing character  of  this  singular  bird  is  its  train,  which, 
when  erected,  forms  a  fan  of  the  most  resplendent  hues. 
The  voice  is  very  hoarse  and  disagreeable,  and  its  feet  by  no 
means  in  correspondence  with  the  beauty  of  its  plumage. 

The  peacock  has,  in  some  countries,  been  esteemed  an 
article  of  luxury;  but  whatever  there  may  be  of  delicacy  in 
the  flesh  of  a  young  peacock,  it  is  certain  an  old  one  is  very 
indifferent  eating.  Peacocks  were  highly  esteemed  among 
the  Romans,  and  they  are  mentioned,  (1  Kings  x.  22,)  as 
among  Solomon's  importations  from  the  East.  Our  peacocks 
were  also  brought  from  the  East  Indies,  and  we  are  assured 
that  there  are  still  vast  flocks  of  them,  in  a  wild  state,  in  the 
islands  of  Java  and  Ceylon. 

Pelican.  This  bird  is  much  larger  than  the  swan,  and 
somewhat  resembles  it  in  shape  and  colour,  and  that  which 
distinguishes  it  from  all  other  birds,  is  its  enormous  bill,  and 
extraordinary  pouch.  From  the  point  of  the  bill  to  the  open- 
ing of  the  mouth,  there  is  the  distance  of  fifteen  inches,  and 
under  the  lower  chop  is  a  bag,  reaching  the  entire  length  of 
the  bill  to  the  neck.  When  empty,  this  bag  or  pouch  con- 
tracts so  as  scarcely  to  be  perceived ;  but  when  filled,  its 
great  bulk  and  singular  appearance  may  easily  be  conceived. 
This  bag,  it  is  said,  is  capable  of  holding  fifteen  quarts  of 
water.  Tetre  afiirms  that  this  pouch  will  hold  as  many  fish 
as  will  serve  sixty  hungry  men  for  a  meal.  Such  is  the  for- 
mation of  this  extraordinary  bird,  which  is  a  native  of  Africa 
and  America.  The  pelican  is  a  torpid,  inactive  bird,  and 
nothing  can  exceed  its  indolence  but  its  gluttony.  It  is  only 
from  the  stimulations  of  hunger  that  they  are  excited  to 
labour;  otherwise  they  would  always  remain  in  a  state  of 
fixed  repose.  Their  lives  are  spent  between  sleeping  and 
eating,  and  they  are  as  foul  as  they  are  voracious. 

It  was  once  believed  that  the  pelican  fed  her  young  with 
her  own  blood.  The  fact  is,  that  the  parent  bird  feeds  its 
young  by  pressing  its  full  pouch  against  its  breast,  and  thus 
expelling  a  portion  of  the  contents.  The  appearance  of  the 
bird,  in  this  attitude,  with  the  blood  red  spot  at  the  end  of  its 
bill,  closely  pressed  against  its  breast,  may  readily  account 
for  the  prevalence  of  such  an  idea,  in  the  minds  of  superfi- 
cial observers. 

The  pelican,  being  a  solitary  and  torpid  bird,  is  used  as  an 


RAV  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  353 

emblem  of  desolation.  It  was  unclean  under  the  law.  (Lev. 
xi.  18.  Dent.  xiv.  17.)  David,  in  his  distress,  was  like  a 
pelican  of  the  wilderness  ;  that  is,  in  a  very  lonely  and 
mournful  condition.  (Ps.  cii.  6.) 

Pigeon.  In  accordance  with  the  ceremonial  law,  any  per- 
son who  was  too  poor  to  afford  a  lamb  for  an  offering-,  was 
permitted  to  bring-  two  turtle  doves,  or  two  young  pigeons. 
(Lev.  V.  7;  xii.  8.)  As  this  was  the  offering  made  by  the 
parents  of  our  Lord,  (Luke  ii.  24,)  it  was  an  evidence  of 
their  poverty.     See  Dove. 

Quail.  This  bird  bears  a  great  resemblance  to  the  par- 
tridge in  appearance,  except  that  it  is  not  more  than  half  the 
size.  Its  flesh  is  a  great  delicacy.  The  feathers  of  the  head 
are  black,  edged  with  a  rusty  brown  ;  the  breast  is  of  a  pale 
yellowish  red,  spotted  with  black  ;  the  feathers  on  the  back 
are  marked  with  lines  of  pale  yellow,  and  the  legs  are  of  a 
pale  hue. 

The  oriental  quail  is  a  bird  of  passage.  Hasselquist  says 
it  is  plentiful  near  the  shores  of  the  Red  Sea  and  the  Jordan, 
and  in  the  deserts  of  Arabia;  and  Diodorus  asserts  that  it  is 
caught,  in  immense  numbers,  about  Rhinocolura,  countries 
through  which  the  Israelites  passed  on  their  way  to  the  pro- 
mised land. 

On  two  occasions,  the  murmuring  Hebrews  were  supplied 
with  quails,  and  on  each  occasion,  the  event  is  distinctly  re- 
ferred to  the  miraculous  interposition  of  God.  (Ex.xvi.  12,13; 
Numb.  xi.  31.)  On  the  first  occasion,  they  were  scattered 
about  the  camp,  only  for  a  single  day  ;  on  the  second,  they 
continued  for  the  space  of  an  entire  month. 

Raven.  This  bird  is  about  two  feet  in  length,  and  four 
feet  between  the  tips  of  the  wings.  The  blackness  of  the 
raven  is  proverbial.  (Cant.  v.  11.)  He  is  strong  and  hardy, 
and  is  found  in  every  region  of  the  globe.  Cold  and  hot 
climates  are  alike  indifferent  to  him,  and  he  is  equally  active 
in  both.  The  raven  may  be  trained  up  to  almost  any  purpose, 
for  which  birds  of  prey  may  be  used.  He  may  be  taught  the 
art  of  fowling,  like  the  hawk ;  to  fetch  and  carry,  like  a  spa- 
niel, and  to  talk,  like  the  parrot,  and  also  to  sing.  In  his 
tame  state,  he  is  very  amusing,  but  is  a  mischievous  and 
pilfering  bird. 

2E2 


354  SCRIPTURE   NATURAL   HISTORY.  SCO 

Under  the  law,  the  raven  was  classed  among  the  unclean 
birds.  (Lev.  xi.  15.)  When  Noah  sent  the  raven  out  of  the 
ark  to  see  if  the  waters  were  abated,  it  did  not  return  to  him. 
(Gen.  viii.  6,  7.)  When  the  prophet  Elijali  retired,  by  the 
direction  of  God,  near  the  brook  Cherith,  he  was  fed  for  some 
time  by  ravens,  who  brought  him  bread  and  flesh,  morning 
and  evening.  (1  Kings  xvii.  6.) 

Roe.  It  is  thought  that  the  Hebrew  word,  translated  roe, 
in  our  Bibles,  is  the  gazelle,  or  antelope.     See  Deer. 

Satvrs.  Wild  men,  or  imaginary  animals,  half  man  and. 
half  goat,  poetically  introduced  by  Isaiah,  (xiii.  21 ;  xxxiv.  14,) 
as  dancing  among  the  ruins  of  Babylon.  It  is  remarkable, 
that  the  inhabitants  of  that  country  still  believe  in  the  exist- 
ence there  of  satyrs.  It  is  probable  that  the  idea  of  the  ex- 
istence of  such  an  animal,  may  have  been  received  from  the 
ape,  or,  as  it  is  sometimes  called,  the  wild  man  of  the  woods, 
or  satyr. 


The  Scorpion. 

Scorpion.  This  is  one  of  the  largest  of  the  insect  tribe, 
and  not  less  terrible  from  its  size  than  its  malignity.  It  bears 
a  close  resemblance  to  a  lobster  in  shape,  but  is  much  more 
hideous  in  appearance.  There  are  several  kinds  of  scorpions, 
differing  in  size  and  colotir. 

There  are  four  principal  parts  in  the  scorpion ;  the  head, 
the  breast,  the  belly,  and  the  tail.  The  head  seems  as  if  it 
were  joined  to  the  breast,  in  the  middle  of  which  are  seen 
two  eyes,  and  a  little  more  forward,  two  eyes  more,  placed  in 
the  fore  part  of  the  head  ;  these  eyes  are  so  small  that  they 
are  scarcely  perceptible,  and  it  is  probable  that  this  animal  has 


SHE 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


355 


little  occasion  for  seeino;.  The  mouth  is  furnished  with  two 
jaws,  with  which  it  breaks  its  food,  and  thrusts  it  into  its 
mouth.  On  each  side  of  the  head  are  two  arms,  each  com- 
posed of  four  joints,  like  the  claws  of  a  lobster.  Besides  these 
arms  it  has  eight  legs,  four  on  each  side.  The  body  is  divided 
into  seven  little  rings,  from  the  lowest  of  which  is  continued 
a  tail,  composed  of  six  joints,  the  last  being  armed  with  a 
crooked  sting.  This  sting  is  the  instrument  which  renders 
the  insect  so  formidable,  and  with  which  it  inflicts  a  poison- 
ous, and  often  fatal  v^^ound.  The  scorpion  found  in  the  south- 
ern countries  of  Europe,  is  about  four  inches  long;  but  in 
the  tropical  climates  of  the  East,  it  is  often  found  twelve 
inches  in  length. 

Scorpions  are  mentioned  as  amongst  the  dangers  of  the 
Israelites,  in  the  wilderness.  (Deut.  viii.  15.)  This  animal  is 
always  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures,  as  an  emblem  of  venom 
and  malignity.  (Ezek.  ii.  6.  Luke  xi.  11,  12;  x.  19.  Rev. 
ix.  3—10.) 

Serpent.  The  craft  and 
subtlety  of  this  class  of 
animals,  which  includes  a 
very  numerous  race,  differ- 
ing greatly  from  each  other  ^P 
in  size  and  malignity,  are 
frequently  dwelt  on  in  the 
sacred  writings,  as  quali- 
ties for  which  it  is  emi- 
nently distinguished.  Moses  says  it  was  more  subtle  than  any 
beast  of  the  field  which  the  Lord  had  made ;  (Gen.  iii.  1;)  and 
our  Saviour  refers  to  its  wisdom,  as  affording  a  model  for 
imitation  to  his  disciples.  (Matt.  x.  16.) 

Sheep.  In  its  present  domestic  state,  the  sheep  is,  of  all 
animals,  the  most  defenceless  and  inoffensive.  With  its 
liberty,  it  appears  to  have  been  deprived  of  its  swiftness  and 
cunning.  Without  swiftness,  it  endeavours  to  fly,  and  with- 
out strength,  sometimes  makes  a  useless  opposition.  In  its 
■wild  state,  however,  it  is  a  hardy,  active  animal,  and  in  every 
way  fitted  to  defend  itself,  or  escape  from  those  dangers  by 
which  it  is  surrounded. 

In  Syria,  there  are  two  kinds  of  sheep ;  the  one  differing 
in  no  respect  from  those  among  us,  except  that  their  tails  are 


The  Serpent. 


356  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  SNA 

somewhat  longer  and  thicker;  the  other  kind  is  that  which 
has  been  so  frequently  mentioned  by  travellers,  on  account 
of  the  extraordinary  size  of  the  tail ;  and  this  species  is  by 
far  the  most  numerous.  The  tail  of  this  kind  of  sheep  is 
affirmed  by  travellers  to  weigh  from  fifteen  to  fifty  pounds. 

In  a  domesticated  state,  the  sheep,  as  already  noticed,  is  a 
weak  and  defenceless  animal,  and  dependent  altogether  on 
the  care  of  man  for  its  protection  and  support ;  but,  notwith- 
standing its  imbecility,  it  is  nevertheless  prone  to  stray  from 
the  care  of  its  keeper;  and  on  this  character  of  the  sheep, 
almost  all  the  allusions  to  this  animal,  in  the  wScriptures,  are 
founded.  David  confesses  that  he  had  imitated  their  foolish 
conduct.  "I  have  gone  astray  like  a  lost  sheep,"  and, 
conscious  that  he  was  disposed,  like  them,  to  wander  still 
further  from  the  fold,  he  adds,  'seek  thy  servant."  (Ps. 
cxix.  176.) 

The  sheep-folds,  among  the  Israelites,  appear  to  have  been 
generally  houses,  or  enclosures,  walled  round,  to  guard  the 
sheep  from  beasts  of  prey  by  night,  and  the  scorching  heat 
by  day.  To  this  kind  of  sheep-fold  our  Saviour, -doubtless, 
refers.  "  He  that  entereth  not  by  the  door  into  the  sheep- 
fold,  but  climbeth  up  some  other  way,  the  same  is  a  thief 
and  a  robber."  (John  x.  I — 11.) 

Snail.  The  wise  Author  of  nature  having  denied  feet  and 
claws,  to  enable  snails  to  creep  and  climb,  has  made  amends 
to  them,  in  a  way  more  commodious  for  their  state  of  life,  by 
the  broad  skin  along  each  side  of  their  belly,  and  the  imdu- 
lating  motion  observable  there.  By  this  motion  they  creep  ; 
by  the  broad  skin,  assisted  by  the  glutinous  slime  emitted 
from  the  body,  they  adhere  firmly  and  securely  to  the  surface 
of  any  object,  partly  by  the  tenacity  of  their  slime,  and  partly 
by  tlie  pressure  of  the  atmosphere.  Thus  the  snail  wastes 
itself  by  its  own  motion,  every  undulation  leaving  some  of 
its  moisture  behind;  and,  in  the  same  manner,  the  actions  of 
wicked  men  prove  their  destruction.  They  may,  like  the 
snail,  carry  their  defence  along  with  them,  and  retire  into  it, 
as  the  snail  does  into  its  shell,  on  every  appearance  of 
danger;  they  may  confidently  trust  in  their  own  resources, 
and  banish  far  away  the  fear  of  evil ;  but  the  principles  of 
ruin  are  at  work  within  them,  and  though  the  progress  may 
be  slow,  the  result  is  certain.  The  Psalmist  prayed,  "As  a 
snail  that  melteth,  let  every  one  of  them  pass  away;"  and 


STO  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  357 

Jehovah  answered,  "The  wicked  shall  be  turned  into  hell, 
and  all  the  nations  that  forget  God."  (Ps.  Iviii.  8.  Lev.  xi.  30.) 

Sparrovv%  The  Hebrew  word  translated  sparrow,  is  also 
used  for  all  sorts  of  clean  birds,  or  those  whose  use  was  not 
forbidden  in  the  law,  and  especially  for  the  smaller  birds; 
and  in  most  of  the  passages  where  a  sparrow  is  mentioned, 
we  may  understand  a  bird  of  any  kind.  A  very  small  kind 
of  bird  is  no  doubt  understood,  which  was  sold  five  for  two 
farthings,  or  two  fur  a  farthing.  (Matt.  x.  29.  Luke  xii.  6.) 
To  mark  his  afflicted  and  sorrowful  condition,  David  com- 
pares himself  to  a,  sparrow  alone  upon  the  house  top.  (Ps, 
Ixxxiv.  3.)  • 

Spider,  A  well  known  insect,  remarkable  for  the  thread 
which  it  spins,  and  with  which  it  forms  a  web  of  curious 
texture,  but  so  frail,  that  it  is  exposed  to  be  broken  and  de- 
stroyed by  the  slightest  accident.  To  the  slenderness  of  this 
filmy  workmanship.  Job  compares  the  hope  of  the  wicked, 
{viii.  14.)  This  comparison  is  so  exquisite  that  nothing  can 
he  conceived  which  so  fully  describes  the  utter  vanity. of 
xheir  hopes  and  prosperity.  Isaiah  says,  also,  "they  weave 
the  web  of  the  spider,  of  their  webs  no  garment  shall  be 
made,  neither  shall  they  cover  themselves  with  their  works." 
■  -(lix.  5.)  The  greater  number  of  commentators  suppose  the 
spider  to  be  referred  to  by  Solomon,  when  he  says,  she  taketh 
hold  with  her  hands  ;  (Prov.  xxx.  28 ;)  but  as  the  usual  word 
for  that  insect  is  not  used  in  the  original,  in  this  place,  it  has 
been,  by  others,  believed  to  refer  to  the  newt,  a  small  kind  of 
lizard. 

The  natural  history  of  the  spider  is  exceedingly  curious 
in  all  its  details ;  but  our  limits  forbid  us  from  pursuing  it 
further. 

Stork.  This  bird  is  one  of  the  crane  kind,  and  has  the 
long  beak  and  legs  which  characterize  that  species.  The 
most  remarkable  of  the  storks  is  the  white  one,  the  length 
of  which  is  above  three  feet.  The  bill  is  nearly  eight  inches 
long,  and  of  a  fine  red  colour.  The  skin  of  the  legs  and 
bare  part  of  the  thighs,  is  also  red. 

^  The  white  stork  is  semi-domestic,  haunting  towns  and 
cities,  in  many  countries,  and  stalking  about  the  streets  un- 
concernedly, from  which  they  remove  the  filth,  and  clear  the 


358  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  SWA 

fields  of  serpents  and  reptiles.  On  this  account  they  are 
protected  in  Holland,  held  in  high  veneration  by  the  Ma- 
hometans, and  so  greatly  were  they  respected,  in  times  of 
old,  by  the  Thessalonians,  that  to  kill  one  of  these  birds, 
was  a  crime  expiable  only  by  death.  The  ancients,  indeed, 
describe  it  as  a  pattern  of  conjugal  fidelity,  and  of  filial  and 
paternal  piety. 

Moses  places  the  stork  amongst  the  unclean  birds.  (Lev. 
xi.  19.  Detit.  xiv.  18.)  The  Psalmist  says,  (civ.  17,)  as  for 
the  stork,  the  fir  trees  are  her  house.  The  low  houses  in 
Palestine  did  not  afford  so  favourable  a  situation  for  the  stork 
to  build  in,  as  the  houses  of  Europe,  and  she,  doubtless  for 
that  reason,  resorted  to  the  pine  trees.  Profane  writers  speak 
much  of  the  piety  of  the  stork,  and  of  its  gratitude  to  its 
parents. 

Swallow.  There  are  many  species  of  the  swallow;  all 
of  them  have  bills  which  are  broad,  small  at  the  point,  and 
slightly  curved.  The  wings  are  long,  and  the  tail  forked,  the 
legs  short  and  slender.  Their  voice  is  a  peculiar  twittering 
noise,  and  they  fly  with  great  rapidity. 

The  only  mention  of  the  swallow,  in  Scripture,  is  in  Isaiah 
xxxviii.  14,  and  Jeremiah  viii.  7.  Hezekiah,  referring  to  his 
recent  afiliction,  says,  as  a  swallow,  or  a  crane,  so  did  I  chat- 
ter. The  note  of  swallows  being  quick  and  mournful,  the 
allusion  of  the  king  is  supposed  to  be  to  his  prayers,  which 
were  so  interrupted  by  groans,  as  to  be  like  the  quick  twitter- 
ings of  the  swallow.  The  passage  in  Jeremiah  refers  to  the 
well  known  migration  of  this  bird,  from  which  the  prophet 
takes  occasion  to  reprove  the  ingratitude  of  the  favoured 
tribes.  "  The  turtle,  and  the  crane,  and  the  swallow,  observe 
the  time  of  their  coming,  but  my  people  know  not  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Lord." 

Swan.  So  much  difference  exists  between  this  bird  when 
on  land  and  in  the  water,  that  it  hardly  appears  like  the  same 
creature. 

When  it  ascends  from  the  water,  its  favourite  element,  its 
motions  are  awkward,  and  its  neck  is  stretched  forward  with 
an  air  of  stupidity;  but  when  seen  smoothly  gliding  along 
the  water,  displaying  a  thousand  graceful  attitudes,  and 
moving  at  pleasure,  without  the  smallest  apparent  effort, 
there  is  not  a  more  beautiful  figure  in  all  nature.      It  is 


SWA 


SCRIPTURE   NATURAL   HISTORY. 


359 


The  Swan. 


able  to  swim  faster  than  a  man 
can  walk. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  as  deli- 
cate in  its  appetites,  as  it  is 
elegant  in  its  form.  Its  chief 
food  is  corn,  herbs  growing  in 
the  water,  and  roots  and  seeds 
which  are  found  near  the  margin. 
At  the  time  of  incubation,  it  pre- 
pares a  nest  in  some  retired  part 
of  the  bank,  and  chiefly  where 
there  is  a  small  island  in  the 
stream.  The  swan  la3's  seven 
or  eight  eggs,  white,  and  much 
larger  than  that  of  the  goose.  A  female  has  been  known  to 
attack  and  drown  a  fox,  which  was  swimming  towards  her 
nest,  and  an  old  swan  can  break  the  leg  of  a  man  with  his 
wing.  The  swan  is  a  long-lived  bird,  and  sometimes  attains 
the  age  of  more  than  a  hundred  years. 

The  wild,  or  whistling  swan,  though  so  strongl 3^ resembling 
the  tame  one  in  colour  and  form,  yet  differs  considerably  from 
it,  especially  in  its  internal  structure.  It  is  also  less,  by  a 
fourth,  in  size;  the  tame  swan  weighing  about  twenty,  and 
the  wild  about  fifteen  pounds.  The  wild  species  is  found  in 
most  of  the  northern  regions,  in  America,  and  probably  in  the 
East  Indies.  The  tame  swan  makes  no  noise,  except  a  hiss  ; 
the  wild  one  has  a  sharp,  loud  cry,  particularly  while  flying. 
The  song,  ascribed  to  this  bird,  when  dying,  by  the  ancients, 
is  a  mere  fable.  The  colour  of  the  tame  swan,  is  all  over 
white;  the  wild  one,  along  the  back,  and  tips  of  the  wing, 
inclines  to  an  ash  colour. 

The  black  swan,  of  New  Holland,  that  country  of  animal 
wonders,  presents  us  with  a  bird,  which  the  ancients  imagined 
could  not  possibly  have  an  existence.  The  black  swan  is  ex- 
actly similar  in  its  form  to  the  same  bird  found  in  other 
countries,  but  is  somew-hat  less  in  size.  Every  part  of  the 
plumage  is  perfectly  black,  except  a  few  of  the  longest  quill 
feathers,  which  are  white.  The  bill  is  bright-red,  and  the 
legs  and  feet  ash-coloured.  They  are  extremely  shy,  and 
when  disturbed,  fly  off,  one  after  another,  like  wild  geese. 

The  swan  is  amongst  the  birds  declared  unclean,  by  the 
Levitical  law,  and  is  only  twice  mentioned  in  the  Bible,  (Lev. 


360 


SCTRIPTURE    NATlfRAL   HISTORY 


xi.  18.  Deut.  xiv.  16 ;)  and  some  authors  have  doubted  whether 
this  bird  is  that  really  intended  by  the  ^yord  so  translated. 

Swine.  This  word  was  formerly  used  in  the  singular,  as 
well  as  the  plural  number,  but  it  is  novr  generally  \ised  for 
hogs,  in  the  plural.     See  Boar. 

Tortoise.  Tortoises  are  usually  divided  into  those  which 
live  upon  land,  and  those  that. live  in  the  water;  and  use  has- 
made  a  distinction  in  the  name,  the  one  being  called  tortoises, 
and  the  other  turtles.  It  has  been  proved,  however,  that  they 
are  all  able  to  live  in  either  element,  and,  upon  examir>ation, 
there  will  be  less  variety  found  among  them,  than  amongst 
birds  that  live  upon  land,  and  those  that  swim  in  the  water. 


Catching  Turtle. 

All  tortoises,  in  their  external  form,  much  resemble  each 
other,  their  outward  covering  being  composed  of  two  great 
shells,  the  one  laid  upon  the  other,  and  only  touching  at  the 
edges.  There  are  two  holes  at  either  edge  of  this  vaulted 
body,  one  for  a  very  small  head,  shoulders,  and  arms  to  peep 
through,  the  other  at  the  opposite  edge,  for  the  feet  and  the 
tail.  These  shells  the  animal  is  never  disengaged  from,  and 
they  serve  for  its  defence  against  every  creature,  except  man. 
When  alarmed,  it  draws  in  its  feet  and  head,  and  closes  the 
shell,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  afford  it  complete  protection. 
It  has  no  teeth,  but  its  moath  is  armed  with  a  hard,  bony  rim. 
Its  tail  is  strong  and  scaly,  like  the  lizard. 


SCRIPTURE   NATURAL  HISTORY.  361 

The  land  tortoise  is  a  long'-lived  animal,  and,  with  respect 
to  injuries,  may  be  considered  as  almost  endowed  with  im- 
mortality. Tiielossof  a  limb  is  a  trifling  matter,  and  it  seems 
as  though  nothing  could  kill  it.  It  will  live  with  its  brain 
taken  out,  and  even  with  its  head  cut  oif.  They  have  fre- 
quently been  known  to  live  for  eighty  years,  and  sometimes 
more  than  a  hundred.    . 

The  sea  tortoise,  or  turtle,  as  it  is  usually  called,  is  much 
larger  than  the  land  tortoise.  The  great  Mediterranean  tur- 
tle is  the  largest  of  the  kind.  It  is  found  from  five  to  eight 
feet  long,  and  from  six  to  nine  hundred  pounds  weight;  but 
these  are  a  formidable  and  useless  kind,  compared  with  those 
of  the  South  Seas.  They  are  of  different  kinds,  not  only 
unlike  each  other  in  form,  but  furnishing  man  with  different 
advantages.  The  imbricated  turtle  supplies  the  tortoise  shell 
which  is  so  extensively  used,  and  the  green  turtle  is  not  less 
noted  for  the  delicacy  and  nutritive  qualities  oCits  flesh.  This 
last  kind  is  generally  found  to  weigh  about  two  hundred  weight, 
though  some  are  found  much  larger.  Dampier  mentions  one 
so  large,  that  a  boy  of  ten  years  of  age,  the  son  of  Captain 
Rock,  used  the  shell  as  a  boat,  and  went  from  the  shore  in  it, 
to  his  father's  ship.  Both  the  land  and  sea  tortoise  feed 
chiefly  on  vegetable  substances. 

The  tortoise  is  classed  amongst  reptiles,  is  a  cold  blooded 
animal,  and  is  mentioned  as  unclean  in  the  ceremonial  law. 
(Lev.  xi.  29.)  Some  learned  men,  however,  think  a  kind  of 
lizard  is  intended.  If  the  tortoise  was  the  animal  referred  to, 
it  was  no  doubt  the  land  tortoise. 

Unicorn.  I^Iuch  difference  of  opinion  has  existed  among 
learned  men,  as  to  the  animal  referred  to  by  the  original  word, 
by  our  translators  rendered  unicorn.  Did  the  original  word, 
in  itself,  denote,  as  in  our  translation,  an  animal  having  only 
one  horn,  much  of  this  uncertainty  would  cease;  but  as  this 
is  not  the  case,  it  affords  a  much  wider  scope  than  otherwise 
would  exist,  for  the  exercise  of  the  imagination  of  biblical 
critics. 

The  first  allusion  to  this  animal,  is  in  the  reply  of  Balaam 
to  Balak,  when  importuned  by  the  terrified  king  to  curse  the 
invading  armies  of  Israel — "  God  brought  them  out  of  Egypt, 
he  hath,  as  it  were,  the  strength  of  an  unicorn."  (Numb,  xxiii. 
22;  xxiv.  8.)  From  this  it  is  evident  that  the  animal  was  con- 
sidered as  possessing  considerable  power.  Isaiah  associates 
2F 


362  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 

him  with  other  powerful  animals,  to  symbolize  the  leaders  and 
princes  of  the  hostile  nations,  that  were  destined  to  invade  his 
country.  "  And  the  unicorns  shall  come  down  with  them, 
and  the  bullocks  with  the  bulls."  (Isa.  xxxiv.  7.)  From  the 
book  of  Job,  we  learn  that  he  was  not  only  an  animal  of  con- 
siderable strength,  but  also  possessed  of  a  very  intractable  dis- 
position. "\Vill  the  unicorn  be  willing  to  serve  thee,  or 
abide  by  thy  crib  V  (Job  xxxix.  9 — 12.)  This  animal  is  also 
referred  to  in  two  or  three  other  passages  in  the  Scriptures, 
but  without  any  very  particular  allusion  to  its  manners  or 
habits.  (Deut.  xxxiii.  17.  Ps.  xxii.  21;  xxix:.  6.)  From  these 
passages,  chiefly,  we  are  to  form  our  opinion  with  respect  to 
the  animal  intended  by  the  sacred  writers. 

The  name  of  unicorn  was  anciently  given  to  an  animal  de- 
scribed as  having  legs  like  the  deer,  the  head,  mane,  and  tail 
like  the  horse,  and  in  the  middle  of  its  forehead,  a  single  horn, 
from  which  it  took  its  name.  Whether  such  an  animal  now 
exists,  or  ever  did  exist,  has  been  doubted.  Most  learned 
men  have  considered  the  existence  of  such  an  animal  as  alto- 
gether fabulous,  and  have,  consequently,  endeavoured  to  find, 
amongst  those  animals  w'hose  existence  and  character  are  well 
determined,  one  whose  description  best  corresponds  with  that 
referred  to  in  the  Scriptures;  and  the  two  which  have  princi- 
pally divided  the  opinions  of  learned  men  are,  the  rhinoceros, 
and  w^ld  buffalo. 

Those  writers  who  prefer  the  rhinoceros,  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  unicorn,  depend  on  the  name  given  in  the  trans- 
lations, as  signifying  an  animal  with  only  one  horn,  and  as 
corresponding,  in  his  character,  with  the  description  given  of 
that  animal.  Those  who  j)refpr  the  wild  buffalo  as  represent- 
ing the  unicorn,  deny  that  the  original  word  has  any  reference 
to  an  animal  with  one  horn,  and  they  argue  that  the  buffalo 
agrees,  in  character,  with  the  scriptural  account  of  the  unicorn. 

It  is  objected,  also,  that  though  the  rhinoceros  in  some  coun- 
tries has  only  one  horn,  yet  in  those  parts  where  the  animal 
is  found  nearest  to  Palestine,  it  has  two  horns,  and  those  not 
as  the  unicorn  is  described,  having  the  horn  projecting  from 
the  forehead,  but  one  above  the  other  on  the  snout.  The  ob- 
jections against  those  who  advocate  the  wild  buffalo  as  the 
animal'iiitended,  arise  from  his  having  two  horns;  and  though 
acknowledged  to  be  exceedingly  fierce,  not  fully  meeting  the 
description  of  the  animal  under  consideration. 

On  the  whole,  between  the  claims  of  the  rhinoceros  and 


UNI 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY. 


363 


the  wild  buffalo,  to  be  considered  the  unicorn  of  Scripture, 
we  should  have  no  difficulty  in  deciding  in  favour  of  the 
rhinoceros,  as  best  acrreeing-  with  the  description  of  that 
animal ;  and  will,  therefore,  give  a  somewhat  more  minute 
account  of  it.  Next  to  the  elephant,  the  rhinoceros  is  said 
to  be  the  most  powerful  of  animals.  When  full  grown,  it  is 
twelve  feet  long,  from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the  insertion  of 
the  tail ;  from  six  to  seven  feet  high,  and  the  circumference  of 
its  body  is  nearly  equal  to  its  length.  It  is,  therefore,  equal 
to  the  elephant  in  bulk;  and  the  reason  of  its  appearing  so 
much  smaller  to  the  eye  than  that  animal,  is,  that  its  legs  are 
shorter.  But  for  its  horn,  its  head  would  have  the  appear- 
ance of  that  of  a  hog.  The  skin  is  naked,  rough,  knotty, 
and  lying  on  the  body  in  folds  in  a  very  peculiar  manner,  and 
so  thick,  as  to  turn  the  edge  of  a  scimitar,  and  to  resist  a 
musket  ball. 


Battle  between  the  Rhinoceros  and  Tiger. 

Such  are  the  general  characteristics  of  an  animal  that  ap- 
pears chiefly  formidable  from,  the  horn  growing  out  of  its  snout, 
and  from  that  circumstance,  rendered  irresistible  to  nearly 
every  inhabitant  of  the  forest.  The  elephant,  the  boar,  and 
the  buJEfalo,  are  obliged  to  strike  transversely  with  their 
weapons ;  but  the  rhinoceros,  from  the  situation  of  its  horn, 
employs  all  its  force  with  every  blow;  so  that  the  tiger  will 


364  SCRIPTURE   NATURAL   HISTORY.  UNI 

rather  attack  any  other  animal,  though  dreadful  battles  fre- 
quently take  place  between  them,  in  \vhich  the  tiger  is  almost 
uniformly  destroyed.  In  combats  with  the  elephant  also,  the 
rhinoceros  frequently  comes  off  victorious,  as  its  lowness 
of  stature  enables  it  to  get  under  the  elephant,  and  pierce  a 
vital  part  with  its  horn.  Travellers  assure  us,  that  the 
elephant  is  often  found  dead  in  the  forests,  pierced  with  the 
horn  of  the  rhinoceros. 

The  great  diversity  of  opinion  which  has  prevailed  amongst 
learned  men  as  to  these  animals,  affords  a  strong  ground  for 
inference,  that  neither  of  them  was  intended  ;  on  the  contrary, 
we  believe  quite  as  strong,  or  even  stronger  testimony  can  be 
produced  in  favour  of  the  existence  of  an  animal,  formerly 
and  at  the  present  time,  which  is  no  doubt  the  true  represen- 
tative of  the  unicorn  described  by  the  ancients. 

Niebuhr,  the  celebrated  traveller,relates,  thatin  the  ruins  of 
Persepolis,  he  found,  on  almost  every  staircase,  the  figure  of 
a  unicorn  depicted  in  various  attitudes;  and  Pliny,  in  speak- 
ing of  the  wild  beasts  of  India  says,  with  respect  to  this  ani- 
mal— "  The  unicorn  is  an  exceeding  fierce  animal,  resembling 
a  horse  as  to  the  rest  of  his  body,  but  having  the  head  like  a 
stag,  the  feet  like  an  elephant,  and  the  tail  like  a  wild  boar; 
its  roaring  is  loud,  and  it  has  a  black  horn  ofabout  two  cubits 
projecting  from  the  middle  of  the  forehead."  These  seem  to 
be  the  chief  ancient  testimony  in  relation  to  this  animal. 

In  more  recent  times,  we  have  further  traces  of  this  animal 
in  Southern  Africa,  and  also  in  Central  Asia,  in  both  of  which 
places  it  has  been  asserted,  on  authority  which  appears  to  be 
altogether  worthy  of  confidence,  that  it  has  been  seen;  and 
when  we  consider  that  the  giraffe  or  cameleopard  has  only  a 
short  time  since  been  rediscovered,  after  having  been  known 
to  the  ancients,  and  long  considered  fabulous  by  the  moderns, 
and  that  a  large  part  of  Africa  and  Central  Asia  is  still  en- 
tirely unexplored  by  Europeans,  it  is  by  no  means  improbable 
that  the  unicorn  now  exists  in  those  remote  regions,  and  that 
it  will  ere  long  be  rediscovered,  and  its  existence  placed  be- 
yond a  doubt. 

The  gnu  or  horned  horse,  which  has  been,  within  a  short 
time  since,  brought  from  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  possesses 
characteristics  quite  as  extraordinary  as  those  which  have 
been  assigned  to  the  unicorn ;  and  if  it  possessed  one  straight 
instead  of  two  crooked  horns,  would  bear  a  strong  resem- 
blance to  the  description  of  that  animal. 


VUL  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY.  365 

Viper.  This  is  a  kind  of  serpent  of  w"hich  there  are 
several  species,  all  of  which  are  venomous,  and  some  of 
them  produce  death  in  a  short  time.  It  is  usually  two  or 
three  feet  in  leng^th,  and  is  a  slow  moving-  kind  of  serpent. 
The  poison  is  infused  into  the  wound  by  a  canal  in  the  fangs, 
by  which  it  is  inflicted. 


The  Vulture. 

Vulture.  The  first  rank  amongst  birds  of  prey,  has  been 
assigned  to  the  eagle,  not  because  it  is  larger  than  the  vul- 
ture, but  because  it  is  more  noble  and  courageous,  and  pos- 
sesses at  least  as  great  an  inclination  for  war,  as  an  appetite 
for  prey.  The  vulture  is  deficient  in  all  the  more  respectable 
qualities  of  the  eagle,  and  only  rivals  it  in  size,  strength,  and 
rapacity. 

Vultures  may  readily  be  distinguished  from  all  those  of  the 
eagle  kind,  by  the  nakedness  of  their  heads  and  necks,  which 
are  without  feathers,  and  only  covered  by  a  very  slight  down, 
or  a  few  scattered  hairs ;  the  eyes  are  more  promiinent,  the 
claws  are  shorter  and  less  hooked,  and  the  flight  more  diffi- 
cult and  heavy.  All  the  vulture  tribe  are  cruel,  uncleanly, 
and  indolent. 

This  bird  is  found  in  almost  all  the  countries  of  the  Eastern 
end  Western  continent.  In  Egypt,  indeed,  it  seems  to  be  of 
singular  service.  There  are  great  flocks  of  them  in  the 
neighbourhood,  of  Grand  Cairo,  which  no  person  is  permitted 
to  destroy,  because  they  devour  all  the  carrion  and  filth,  which 
2F2 


366  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY.  WHA 

has  so  great  a  tendency  to  corrupt  and  putrefy  the  air.  In 
South  America  they  are  found  in  great  abundance,  and  when 
they  light  upon  a  carcass,  which  they  have  liberty  to  feed  on 
at  their  ease,  they  so  gorge  themselves  that  they  are  unable 
to  fly,  but  keep  hopping  along  on  the  ground  wlien  pursued. 
At  all  times  it  is  a  bird  of  slow  flight,  and  when  thoroughly 
gorged,  is  utterly  helpless. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  the  vulture,  all  of  which  so 
closely  resemble  each  other  in  manners  and  habits,  as  to 
require  no  particular  notice.  The  condor,  however,  which 
belongs  to  the  vulture  tribe,  is  remarkable  for  its  immense 
size,  and  is  doubtless  much  the  largest  of  all  birds  that  are 
capable  of  flight.  It  also  possesses  all  the  qualities  which 
render  it  formidable  to  other  animals,  and  even  to  man  him- 
self. It  is  said  to  be  eighteen  feet  across  the  wings,  its  beak 
is  so  strong  as  to  pierce  the  body  of  a  cow,  and  two  of  them 
are  able  to  devour  her  at  a  meal.  It  is  supposed  that  the 
great  bird  called  the  roc,  described  by  the  Arabian  writers, 
and  so  much  exaggerated  by  fable,  is  but  a  species  of  the 
condor. 

The  vulture  is  mentioned  in  the  ceremonial  law  as  among 
the  unclean  birds,  (Lev.  xi.  14.  Deut.  xiv.  13,)  and  is  also 
referred  to  by  the  prophet  Isaiah,  as  an  emblem  of  desola- 
tion, (Isa.  xxxiv.  15.) 

"Whale.  Of  the  whale,  properly  so  called,  there  are 
several  different  species,  but  the  two  principal  divisions  are 
the  common  or  Greenland  whale,  and  the  spermaceti  whale. 

The  great  Greenland  whale  is  the  animal,  for  the  taking 
of  which  such  extensive  preparations  are  made  in  the  di^ 
ferent  ports  of  Europe  and  America.  It  is  a  large  heavy 
animal,  and  the  head  is  a  third  part  of  its  bulk.  It  is  usually 
found  from  sixty  to  seventy  feet  long.  The  tail  is  about 
twenty-four  feet  broad,  and  when  it  lies  on  one  side,  a  blow 
from  it  is  tremendous.  The  skin  is  smooth  and  black,  and 
in  some  places  marbled  with  white  and  yellow,  which,  run- 
ning over  the  surface,  has  a  very  beautiful  effect.  The  cleft 
of  the  mouth  is  above  twenty  feet  long,  which  is  about  one- 
third  of  the  animal's  whole  length,  and  the  upper  jaw  is  fur- 
nished with  barbs  that  lie  like  the  pipes  of  an  organ,  the 
greatest  in  the  middle,  and  the  smallest  on  the  sides:  these 
compose  the  whalebone,  the  longest  of  which  are  not  less 
than  eighteen  feet.    The  eyes  are  not  larger  than  those  of  an 


WHA 


SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY. 


367 


ox,  and  placed  towards  the  back  of  the  head,  which  enables 
them  to  see  both  before  and  behind,  and  they  appear  to  be 
very  sharp-sighted. 

As  these  animals  breathe  the  air,  it  is  obvious  that  they 
cannot  remain  a  great  length  of  time  under  water.  They  are 
constrained,  therefore,  every  two  or  three  minutes,  to  come  up 
to  the  surface  to  take  breath,  as  well  as  to  spout  out  through 
their  nostril  (for  they  have  but  one)  the  water  they  have  sucked 
in  while  gaping  for  their  prey. 

The  cachalot,  or  spermaceti  whale,  is  not  of  such  enormous 
size  as  the  Greenland  whale ;  it  does  not  exceed  sixty  feet  in 
length,  and  sixteen  in  depth,  and  being  more  slender,  is  also 
more  active  than  the  common  whale.  The  head  of  the 
spermaceti  is  even  larger  than  the  common  whale,  being 
equal  to  one-half  the  bulk  of  the  animal.  This  species  of 
whale  is  the  most  sought  after,  and  is  by  far  the  most  valua- 
ble, as  it  contains  two  important  drugs,  spermaceti  and 
ambersfris. 


Whale  Fishery. 

To  enter  into  a  detail  of  the  mode  in  which  these  animals 
are  captured,  or  to  give  a  minute  account  of  the  whale  fishery, 
though  very  interesting,  does  not  comport  with  our  object; 
we  would  only  notice,  therefore,  that  when  the  ships  which 
are  fitted  out  for  this  purpose,  arrive  at  the  proper  location, 


568  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY.  WOL 


/ 


the  whale  is  pursued  by  boats,  containing  a  number  of  men, 
armed  with  harpoons,  to  which  a  rope  is  attached,  and  being 
struck  as  often  as  it  comes  up  to  breathe,  it  at  length  expires 
under  repeated  wounds. 

It  may  readily  be  supposed,  that  the  pursuit  of  such  a  huge 
and  powerful  animal  is  often  attended  with  extreme  danger. 

The  whale  is  several  times  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures. 
In  the  account  of  the  creation,  it  is  said  that  "  God  created 
great  whales"  on  the  fifth  day.  (Gen.  i.  21.)  When  Job, 
duringhis  distress  and  great  affliction,  addressed  the  Almighty, 
he  says,  "am  I  a  sea  or  a  whale,  that  thou  settest  a  watch 
over  me  T"  (Job  vii.  12.)  Ezekiel  compares  the  powerful 
and  cruel  king  of  Egypt,  to  a  young  lion,  and  a  whale. 
(Ezek.  xxxii.  2.) 

It  is  generally  believed,  that  the  great  fish  by  which  Jonah 
was  so  miraculously  preserved  was  a  whale,  (Jonah  i.  17,) 
and  our  Lord,  in  speaking  of  this  event,  (Matt.  xii.  40,)  calls 
it  so.  It  has  been  disputed,  however,  whether  the  "  great 
fish"  was  really  a  whale  or  not,  and  is  denied  by  some,  be- 
cause there  are  no  whales  in  the  Mediterranean  sea,  where 
this  event  occurred,  and  because  the  throat  of  a  whale  is  too 
small  to  swallow  a  man.  To  us  neither  of  these  reasons 
present  the  least  difficulty,  as  it  is  altogether  probable  that 
whales  did  frequent  the  Mediterranean  in  the  early  periods 
of  the  world,  before  so  many  great  ships  were  constantly 
ploughing  its  surface,  and  though  the  throat  of  the  whale  is* 
too  small  to  swallow  a  man,  5'et  when  we  consider  that  the 
head,  and  consequently  the  mouth,  in  som.e  species  of  the 
whale,  is  equal  to  half  the  animal,  it  would  certainly  be  no 
great  stretch  of  words  to  say  that  the  whale  swallowed 
Jonah,  though  he  did  not  actually  pass  into  the  stomach  of 
the  animal. 

Wolf.  This  is  one  of  those  animals  whose  appetite  for 
animal  food  is  the  most  vehement,  and  whose  means  of  satis- 
fying that  appetite  are  the  most  various.  Nature  has  fur- 
nished him  with  strength,  with  cunning,  with  agility,  and 
all  those  requisites,  in  a  word,  which  fit  an  animal  for  pursu- 
ing, overtaking,  and  conquering  its  prey ;  and  yet  with  all 
these  the  wolf  not  unfrequently  dies  of  hunger,  for  he  is  the 
declared  enemy  of  man.  Being  long  proscribed,  and  a  re- 
ward offered  for  his  head,  he  is  obliged  to  fly  from  the  habita- 
tions of  man.  and  to  live  in  the  forest,  where  the  few  wild 


WOL  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL    HISTORY.  369 

animals  to  be  found,  escape  him  either  by  their  swiftness  or 
their  art,  or  are  supplied  in  too  small  a  proportioa  to  satisfy 
his  rapacity.  When  pressed  with  huno-er,  however,  he  braves 
danger,  and  attacks  those  animals  which  are  under  the  pro- 
tection of  man,  particularly  lambs  and  sheep,  which  are  its 
favourite  prey. 

The  wolf,  both  externally  and  internally,  so  nearly  re- 
sembles the  dog-,  that  they  seem  formed  on  the  same  plan, 
but  in  their  dispositions  they  are  entirely  unlike ;  the  wolf, 
when  tamed,  seldom  showing  any  of  that  attachment  and 
devotedness  to  his  master,  which  so  strongh/ characterizes 
the  other  faithful  animal. 

The  wolf  is  usually,  when  full  grown,  above  two  and  a 
half  feet  in  height,  and  three  and  a  half  from  the  nose  to 
the  tail.  The  head  is  long,  and  more  pointed  than  the  dog, 
the  ears  erect,  and  the  eyes  lively  and  fierce.  The  tail  is 
long  and  bushy,  and  bends  down  towards  the  legs,  the  hair 
is  of  a  grayish  yellow  colour,  with  a  dark  stripe  on  the  fore- 
legs, but  in  some  climates  the  colour  is  nearly  black. 

When  driven  by  hunger,  wolves  will  not  hesitate  to  attack 
human  beings.  The  following  circumstance  is  said  to  have 
occurred  in  Russia,  some  years  ago.  A  poor  woman  and 
three  children  were  in  a  sledge,  when  they  were  pursued  by 
a  number  of  wolves.  On  this,  she  drove  tov/ards  her  home, 
which  was  not  far  distant,  with  all  possible  speed.  The 
ferocious  animals,  however,  gained  on  her,  when,  for  the 
preservation  of  her  ovv^n  life,  and  the  lives  of  her  two  other 
children,  she  'threw  out  her  babe,  to  her  bloodthirsty  pursu- 
ers. This,  however,  only  stopped  their  career  for  a  moment, 
and  on  their  approach  the  second  and  third  times,  the  other 
children  were  successively  thrown  out  to  them. 

Soon  after  the  last  child  had  been  devoured,  the  Vv^retched 
woman  reached  her  home,  and  related  what  had  happened, 
endeavouring  to  excuse  her  conduct,  by  describing  the  dread- 
ful condition  to  which  she  had  been  reduced.  A  peasant, 
however,  who  was  amongst  the  by-standers,  took  up  an  axe, 
and  with  one  blow  killed  her,  sa5nng,  that  a  woman  who 
could  thus  sacrifice  her  ov/n  offspring,  was  no  longer  fit  to 
live.  The  peasant  was  imprisoned,  but  afterwards  par- 
doned by  the  emperor. 

The  allusions  to  the  wolf  in  the  Scriptures,  correspond 
with  the  history  given  of  him  by  naturalists.  His  fierceness 
and  cruelty  are  the  dispositions  chiefly  referred  to.     He  is 


370  SCRIPTURE    NATURAL   HISTORY.  WOR 

frequently  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures,  and  appears  to  have 
abounded  in  Palestine  and  the  neighbouring  countries.  (Gen. 
xlix.  27.  Matt.  vii.  15.) 

Worm.  Animals  of  the  worm  kind,  are  placed  by  scien- 
tific writers,  as  the  first  in  the  class  of  zoophytes ;  but  as, 
like  serpents,  they  have  a  creeping  motion,  so  both,  in  gener- 
al, go  under  the  common  appellation  of  reptiles.  But,  though 
worms  as  well  as  serpents,  are  mostly  without  feet,  and  have 
been  doomed  to  creep  along  the  earth,  yet  their  motions  are 
very  different.  The  serpent,  having  a  back  bone,  bends  its 
body  into  the  form  of  a  bow,  and  then  shoots  forward  from 
the  tail ;  but  the  worm  has  the  power  of  lengthening  or  con- 
tracting itself,  at  will. 

There  is  no  phenomenon  in  all  natural  history,  more  asto- 
nishing, than  what  is  sometimes  seen  in  creatures  of  the  worm 
kind.  Some  of  them  will  live  without  their  limbs,  and  often 
are  seen  to  reproduce  them.  Some  continue  to  exist,  though 
cut  in  two,  their  principal  parts  preserving  life,  while  the 
others  perish;  but  the  earth  worm,  and  all  the  zoophyte  tribe, 
continue  to  live  in  separate  parts,  and  one  animal,  by  means 
of  cutting,  is  divided  into  two  distinct  existences,  perhaps 
into  a  thousand.  The  earth  worm,  for  instance,  when  cut 
in  two  in  the  middle,  will  become  two  perfect  animals,  the 
head  will  reproduce  a  tail,  and  the  tail  part  will  reproduce  a 
head,  and  forming  two  equally  perfect  and  distinct  animals. 
Wonderful  as  this  fact  may  appear,  repeated  experiments 
have  verified  it  beyond  all  question. 

There  are  four  kinds  of  worms  spoken  of  in  Scripture: 
those  which  breed  in  putrefied  bodies ;  those  which  cut 
woollen  garments  ;  those  which  perforate  the  leaves  and 
bark  of  trees,  and  those  which  are  destructive  to  the  vines 
referred  to  in  Deut.  xxxiii,  39.    Job  xxv.  6.    Ps.  xxii.  6, 


THE    END. 


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